What Is Your Legacy to Your Children?

Last weekend, my parents gathered my siblings and I, and our respective families, for a family meeting. (Only my sister and her family weren’t present, as they are based in Brunei.)

It was a fruitful gathering, and it brought back memories of my childhood, when my parents started this annual tradition of having a meeting at least once a year, usually at the end or beginning of the year.

We would gather together in my parents’ bedroom or in the living room, and pray together. Then we'd talk about the blessings of the past year, and our hopes, dreams and goals for the New Year. We'd end with a family prayer and a resolve to help one another achieve our goals.

This year's meeting was not that different from the family meetings of my childhood. What was special about it, though, was that my nieces and nephews were also present, and had a chance to speak, too, despite their young ages.

This tradition of regular family meetings is something that I truly treasure, and thank my parents for. Actually, it started with my grandparents — I distinctly remember our annual family reunions on both sides, and the family meetings that would take place, presided over by my grandparents.

I guess you could say that the tradition of gathering, praying and making plans together as a family has become a “legacy” of sorts — something I hope my siblings, cousins and I will pass on to the next generation.

In our own young family, we've started having family meetings, too. Since our children are still too young to join in though, it's usually my husband and I who plan and dream and hope together.

We do, however, include the children when it comes to praying daily for our plans, hopes and dreams. Our six-year-old son has even memorized each of our prayer concerns and wishes word for word, so he can lead us in prayer when asked to.

Aside from the legacy of faith-filled family meetings, my parents have also given us an even greater legacy — that of loving God above all things, and loving our neighbor by being kind, considerate, patient and helpful. They have also taught us the value of spending time together as a family, and of hard work and discipline (though when I was younger, I admit to being resentful of having a “strict, overbearing” father).

Now that I'm a parent, I know better. I know that my dad was “strict” because he only wanted the best for us. He seemed “overbearing” but in reality, he was just trying to protect us.

The legacy of faith, love for God, family and neighbor, and service to others that has been passed on to us is something that I will always honor my parents for. Yes, even if both of them are still alive, it is important to honor them. Now is as good a time as any to do so — we should never wait until our loved ones have passed on before we say good things about them, don't you think?

What about you, dear readers? What kind of legacy do you want to leave to your children? What legacy has your parents left to you? It's never too late to think of these things. After all, they are part and parcel of what matters most when it comes to building a family.