Growing in Generosity

Inspiration for Your Legacy Journey

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3

4 Ways to Pass on a Legacy of Love

It started as a simple holiday centerpiece – a bouquet of flowers and a few candles on a decorative tray. As she gathered the items from their storage bins, Anne came across a few mementos of holidays past, and an idea was sparked. What if these small treasures became the table’s focal point?

This would be the first gathering since losing several family members. These pieces not only evoked lovely memories, but also showcased each loved one’s generosity: a craft project represented the gift of time a grandparent spent with a grandchild, a special vase spoke to a mother’s thoughtfulness, a bundle of sticks gathered on a family hike highlighted an uncle’s love for the outdoors that he shared with his nieces and nephews.

Maybe it wouldn’t make the cover of a lifestyle magazine, but the centerpiece was a beautiful tribute to a legacy of love now passed on to a new generation.

Author Corrie ten Boom once said, “The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.” You’ve been on the receiving end of your loved ones’ care and kindness. This holiday season, carry on that legacy and honor their memory and generosity. The ideas are endless—here are just a few:

Get something growing. A tree or garden is a living reminder of those gone before and gives you the opportunity to share that beauty with others.

Foster new traditions. What activities would have made your loved one smile? One family goes to a local grocery store on their sister’s birthday and, in her memory, pays for all the birthday cakes purchased that day. Another does random acts of kindness like lawn mowing and paying for coffee on the anniversary of their loved one’s death.

Serve others. Volunteering with a cause close to your loved one’s heart honors what was important to them while tangibly meeting a need.

Give in their memory. A gift in your will to us is a lasting tribute to their legacy of love, impacting the places and people we serve for generations to come.

It’s the season of thanksgiving and gift giving. What better time to honor those who have gone before and live out the legacy they’ve left behind?   

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