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Why Legacy Matters?
After I graduated last year, coincidentally on my grandmother’s birthday, I began reflecting on the legacy of my mom’s side of the family. I think it’s important to note that I had grown up around my mom’s side of the family and became better acquainted with my dad’s side as an adult. I developed a lasting and impactful relationship with my cousins in Virginia. Their dad and my dad are brothers.
I Googled the definition of legacy and I found one that I liked listed in a summary from the Huffington Post : “Legacy [is] something discernible that is transmitted, inherited, or received from a predecessor.”
I was inspired by the ministry of the late Dr. Lois Evans and her emphasis on legacy, as well as the seasons of a woman’s life. She has a book with that same title, by the way. I began pondering the importance of legacy and asking myself what kind of legacy was I leaving behind.
Fast forward to later that month and my cousin, Greg, shared the news about our grandmother, Dinah, that caused a major pivot. It was beyond an aha moment for me. At that time, the past and the present collided in the most important way it could have for me. The answer to prayer. God had given me the desires of my heart – a direct connection to The Continent.
What I’ve discovered about myself is directly tied to my family and its past, situated in the larger society. Knowing who you are, and why you are impacts generations. Having an awareness of the history, the language, and the culture influences how you see yourself. So does the lack of awareness of these things as well. In both of these cases, legacy is passed down, consciously and unconsciously. Legacy matters!
How we choose to manifest the legacy is influenced by what we know. I’m learning so much about connecting the dots and filling in the blanks. I want to do this to honor my ancestors in a very tangible way. How?
By telling my story, telling our stories and keeping that tradition alive and at the same time re-establishing the tradition of igniting the awareness of the younger generations of who we are and where we came from and that it does matter.
— Dr. A