Forged in Fire

Upon starting a family, a person tends to develop an entirely new outlook on life. A more distinct understanding of what this existence, and its many counterparts, mean to us.

For me specifically, I began to recognize and ponder a few things in particular.

One of said things is the role(s) that I play in my day-to-day life. Furthermore, how these roles might be perceived one day when my time here on earth has come to a close.

From those who I love dearly and hold close, down to those whom will play but just a minor part in the broad scope of my life in its entirety – what will be left to say about the moments they experienced in my presence, and the impact I may have made on them, whatever that may have been.

Bringing our first child into this world opened my eyes to the weight that this holds. A weight that is honestly quite complicated to put into words.

I often find myself wondering, as we all do, what actions I must take today in order to best provide a legacy worth remembering for the generations that follow me. Despite my own inability to verbally articulate what this looks like for me – how it takes form in my own mind – I found a great quote from the well-known 20th century Southern Baptist minister and civil-rights advocate, Billy Graham. It goes something like this:

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

 

Though short and sweet, I believe that it does a good job of summarizing the way that I feel.

As I age, and grow and evolve, I continue to gain perspective on what it means to be a man. To be a strong member of a community, to maintain a steady and loving presence as a husband and father, to consistently build upon the physical body that I was gifted (the only one I’ll ever be gifted, I might add … this is important to keep in mind,) and to constantly seek out avenues for growth as a professional to best drive forward the development of all that I love and care for.

All of which is rooted not in the money that is to be made, or the status to be achieved, but in the character that is to be built and sharpened as the days pass by.

The fleeting days that we won’t get back.

What could possibly be more important to fill them with, than with a constant pursuit toward a noble character and a standard that will be handed down to those that supersede me?

Better yet, what more could a person ask for? What better gift could there be?

The opportunity to shape the legacy that you’ll be remembered by, which is fully in your hands at this very moment. Dependent upon your actions, or lack thereof.

Think to yourself: “how do I want to be remembered?”

Do your actions mirror that? If they don’t, it might be time to get the train back on the tracks (I know, I use that cliche far too often, but I love it.)

Decide what this means to you, and how your life must be altered in accordance.

Go be awesome. Not for you, but for all that will come after you.

Forge on.

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