Please join me in welcoming July’s featured blogger, Eileen. I have never met Eileen, but I consider her a dear friend. She has a way of taking words and stringing them into beautiful pieces of art that touch the soul. She makes you laugh with her wit, and draws you closer to God with her heart for the Lord. Please take a moment to visit her at her blogging home, The Scenic Route. You’ll be so glad you did!
It’s interesting to me how the longer we live without a loved one in our life the more precious the memories become to us. My mom passed away when I was 18 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. Since that time, the memories I have of who she was and how she lived her life continue to shape and impact my life today.
Almost a year after my mom’s death, I remember how I nearly hyper-ventilated driving down the road. A terrifying thought rattled my mind: What if, one day, I forget her? What if the memories disappear?
But they haven’t, twenty-one years later and her legacy lives on. I am daily grateful for this too. My mom and I shared a love for words and word games. We packed a lifetime worth of Scrabble games into the few years we had with one another.
One of the reasons I write is to leave a tangible piece of who I am behind for my son. My mom loved to string words together and then play them on her guitar. I love to string words together and post them on my blog. Believe me…you don’t want me singing them to you!
If I had to sum up, in one sentence, the legacy I hope to leave my son it would be this: Seek the beautiful in the midst of the struggle and always, always, always cling to Hope. My mom lived and breathed hope. Her faith grew stronger as her body grew weaker. Even in her final moments here on this earth, it was the hope she placed in a Savior who is forever faithful that carried her forward.
That’s the legacy I want to leave behind too. I want my son to know that this life on earth is a short, beautiful gift. I want him to seize that gift with both hands and courageously run with it. I want him living with an unexplainable joy, a joy that is sometimes too beautiful to put into words. I want this for my son.
In one or two sentences, what legacy do you hope to leave behind to your children? Please share in the comments section.
Bio: Eileen Knowles is a small town Arizona girl who studied English at The University of Arizona a long, long time ago. She now lives in small town North Carolina with her husband, Roger, their eight-year old son, and one quirky dog named Bisbee. When she is not working part-time loving on animals at the local animal hospital, she thoroughly enjoys drinking coffee, running, playing Scrabble, leading Women’s Bible Study at her church, and writing about how cool it is to journey through life with Jesus holding her hand. Eileen is passionate about leaving a legacy for her son and encouraging others along the way who might need a dose of hope poured into their weary lives. You can find Eileen at The Scenic Route, on Twitter or Facebook.
Linking to:
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Women Living Well Wednesday
Seek the beautiful in the midst of the struggle and always, always, always cling to Hope. Eileen, you ALWAYS inspire me. I am so blessed to call you my friend. –Anne
Thank you, Anne!
Love the legacy you’re living (and leaving) for your son, Eileen.
You definitely do this: “Seek the beautiful in the midst of the struggle and always, always, always cling to Hope.” I’d add that you seek the beautiful in the minute details, too. You’re great at that.
I hope to show my kids what *really* trusting means and how seriously amazing grace is.
Thanks for hosting Eileen’s words, Shari!
Thanks, Caroline!
Eileen- your mother has left a legacy that ministers to my heart- I thank Jesus for you both! Beautiful post as well, thank you for sharing your heart. My legacy? I pray it is: life is short; love Jesus and people always! Blessings to you:)
Love that legacy, Tracy!
Love this. I feel the same way, as my Dad has now been gone for more than 26 years. It’s been so interesting to me how God has allowed me to remember things and realize teachings he showed me during these times of my life. I continue to learn from him, even though he’s been gone for so long. I want to leave this kind of legacy for my sons too. I want them to remember me as someone who unconditionally loved them, and taught them how to live by modeling my life after Jesus. Great post!
Very nice, Tammy!
This is a beautiful post! What an amazing legacy of godliness your mom left for you. As her physical body grew weaker, her spirit grew stronger:) I love that!;)
Thanks, Kelli!
Thanks Eileen, Your post is definitely full of hope. I had an extremely difficult relationship with my mother. My legacy would be to show my children that they don’t have to be just survivors, just barely making it, but over-comers because of the One who Overcame, Jesus. I want them to know who I’ve put my trust in – my true Shepherd.
Love that, Annette!
Shari, thanks again for having me over here today!
Eileen, I was honored to have you. You are always welcome!
Blessings~
Shari
Great to see you here, Eileen! This is a beautiful post about the legacy you are leaving your Sean.
I want my children to learn from me to always go to God, to turn to Him in the big and little things. I want them to remember that I was a woman of God.
The big and the little things! So true!
Beautiful words of hope, Eileen. My daughter is Hope so that word is extra special in our family!
I want my kids to always have hope, trust in their Maker, and peace because of His sovereignty.
Nice! Your daughter’s name is beautiful!
LOVE this —–> “Seek the beautiful in the midst of the struggle and always, always, always cling to Hope.”
Thanks, Denise! There is beauty and lessons every where if we keep our eyes open.