December 8, 2025

The word legacy has an interesting history. Noticed the first three letters – leg. The word conveys the idea of walking ahead of someone else, blazing a trail, making a way, preparing a path. Perhaps it seems like an overwhelming task to you, but the great thing about establishing a legacy is its day-by-day nature.

It’s not a matter of living perfectly but living consistently and maturing daily.

We make many decisions every day, but when it comes to the overall essence of our lives, there are only a few that are foundational. The greatest legacy you can pass on to your children and grandchildren is not your money or the other material things you have accumulated in life. The greatest legacy you can pass on to them is the legacy of your character and your faith.

Having made the foundational decisions of our lives, our next job is to live them out day by day, turning them into habits we practice daily.

Our decisions must work themselves out into our everyday lives. Our daily agenda should be the arena where intentions become visible. Our calendars are priority tools. We get to them first, establish vital habits, such as our daily appointment with God, time for our families, and space for the things that enable us to grow stronger. Then we let other things fill in the rest. A friend I respect shared this insight: “Just because you’re available, doesn’t mean you’re available.” Let your vision and values guide your priorities.

We forge a pathway for those who follow us, day by day, word by word. Be intentional about living a life others will want to emulate. As General Colin Powell said, “If you’re going to achieve excellence and big things, you develop the habit in little matters.”

Intentionally Own It! What personalized growth does this message encourage me to pursue, and why does it matter? When will I take action, and what value will it add to my life and others?