Created Legacies
No money or possessions to leave behind? What can you leave your children that may not necessarily hold any monetary value, but can provide them with a legacy for generations to come? Something that can be seen and embraced, and fond memories will flood their minds? These items will carry on longer than money. What are they? I refer to them as created legacies. Gifts created with love.
Photobooks: Today, people are obsessed with cell phone pictures. These photos are easily taken and can be sent to many people, in minutes. Of course, there are backup procedures or files to keep them for years to come. Let us do something many people have stopped doing or some may have never done. A real photo album. When people come to my home. And I bring out the old fashion photo albums, with real pictures and dates. They marvel at the generations of pictures. It is a good time of laughing, commenting, and reminiscing on pictures of old.
Create a photo album of your children; you and your siblings; or a book of different family times. Present these albums to family member you know will keep them for years to come.
Memoirs: Write a personal account of your life. Record different activities and events of your life for future generations. I regret that I did not know more about my mother and her siblings. I was young and did not ask and she never fully discussed her history with me. Writing your memoirs is a great way for future generations to witness your life.
Blanket /quilt: If you are artistic with sewing, knitting, or quilting, Make a family tree blanket/quilt. Pictures and other items can be incorporated into the blanket. Again, I will stress to present this to a child who will preserve your creation. They may not appreciate now, but one day they will look at it, with great fondness.
Book: Write a book. If you have a writing flare, put your words to paper. It can be a book of recipes, teachings or anything that can be of interest. Your children can look back and say my mother or father was an author.
I know you can think of dozens of other suggestions. These gifts may not have a monetary value connected with them, but you left a little history behind, for future generations to behold.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 (KJV)