Sunday Reflections: Leaving a Legacy
- Debra Flaming
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
Yesterday was one of those days that fills my heart to overflowing. Ashley brought the girls over for some farm time, and before long shoes were kicked off, clothes half shed, and the living room pantry had been “planted” with potatoes under the pillows. Their giggles echoed everywhere. By dinnertime, the spaghetti was flying as freely as the laughter—it was messy, chaotic, and absolutely perfect.
After the dishes were done, Ashley gathered the girls for a walk in the flower garden. I lagged a bit behind and when I arrived in the garden there were two shoeless, half-dressed little whirlwinds digging in the dirt, tossing petals into the air, and giggling in the evening light while their mama tried—without much success—to coax them into posing for photos. Watching them, I couldn’t help but smile and think: this is legacy in motion.
Dion and I have poured our hearts into this land—planting fruit trees, tending berry bushes, growing vegetables, and filling the fields with hundreds of dahlias. But the real joy is seeing our children and grandchildren run free here, making memories that will shape how they see the world. My dream is that they will love the rhythm of the seasons, the ebb and flow of life, and the beauty tucked into every change.
More than that, I hope they come to see these things as God’s handiwork—reminders that He made this beautiful world for our pleasure, yes, but also for His glory and honor. Stewardship is more than farming; it is learning to walk in partnership with God, to tend what He has given, and to pass on the wonder of His creation to the next generation.
The Bible speaks often of leaving a legacy:
“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” — Psalm 145:4
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” — Proverbs 17:6
“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.” — Psalm 103:17
Legacy is not built in a moment; it is lived out daily in the way we love, nurture, and point others toward truth and beauty. My prayer is that our family will always cherish this land, these seasons, and most of all, the God who made it all.
A Call to Build Your Legacy
Friend, your legacy isn’t just about land, or work, or possessions—it is about faith lived out before the eyes of those who come after you. The way you love your family, the way you handle trials, the way you honor God with your words and actions—all of it leaves an imprint.
Ask yourself today:
What am I sowing into the lives of my children and grandchildren?
Am I passing down the Word of God as faithfully as I pass down family stories or traditions?
When others look back on my life, will they see a trail that points to Jesus?
Moses urged Israel to “teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:7). That same call rests on us today.
Let us live intentionally, planting seeds of faith that will grow into a harvest of righteousness for generations to come.
So what about you? What kind of legacy are you building—and who are you building it for?
With love for the generations yet to come,
Debra Flaming
