A Legacy of Jubilance

I've been thinking a lot lately about the idea of legacy.  Ya know, the idea of passing on something important of yourself, usually through something awesome you've made or created.  

If you ask folks on the street what they want their legacy to be, I betcha most of them would say something to the effect of, "Teaching my kids how to have it better than me," or "Raising a good family."  Noble, these.

But what about those of us who aren't sure that God will use us to be biological parents?  I meet with an amazing group of women from my church once a week and only two of the ten have tiny people who look like them. I have found an incredible sense of belonging among this group, but it always comes up in some shape or fashion within our conversations that most of us struggle with the desire to be married and have children. But the fact of the matter is, the number of women who are true followers of Christ far outweigh the number of men who are such.  The odds, as the kids say these days, are not in our favor.

Most days I'm okay with this!  I take heart when I read verses such as this from the 7th chapter of 1st Corinthians, "Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others." Sometimes when I read this, I feel as if Paul is nodding at me!  But other times - times when I hold sweet babbling babies or see a newly married couple serving together in church - I feel as if I just haven't gotten to that stage of my life yet.

I think I know a big reason why this idea of legacy has been dancing quietly in the back room of my soul for the last few weeks, and that reason is the twelve pounds of absolute precious joy that make up my nephew, Ford.

By the grace of God, Brother and Sister-in-Law brought baby Ford into this world in August of this year, and his presence in our lives has ushered my little family into a new era full of lullabies, Wubanubs, and the most adorable onesies and bibs ever created.  He is an absolute pro at everything except sleep (he just wants to stay awake and smile at the world!), and Mama, Sister, and I keep a running countdown of when we get to snuggle him next.

But you see, it's not just the presence of baby Ford that has me thinking about legacy. It's the spirit that I see in this little boy... it's the spirit of my Daddy.

My siblings and I are the most wonderful combination of the traits of our parents -- we're all stubborn, strong, and hilarious, and we all look so much alike that we've all been mistaken for twins at one point or another.  I love who we are and who we have turned out to be.  But there's a trait that was present in my sweet Daddy that I think the three of us only got partial doses of -- and that is jubilance.

Not baby Ford.  I can see in him, especially now that he is starting to "talk" (the babbling of an almost four-month old), the pure exultant joy over simply being alive and able to interact with those he loves.  This is the quintessence of what I think of when I remember my Daddy.

This Thanksgiving marks ten years since he went Home, and I'm in awe of all that has gone on in our lives and in the world since he's been gone.  Daddy would balk at smart phones, but I think he would love The Big Bang Theory.  He would be quietly worried and saddened over all of the war and bickering within our nation and the world.  He would love playing with my puppy, Stella, and he would ask for samples as Mama makes this week's batch of red velvet cupcakes (a new take on his favorite cake).  He would adore my Sister-in-Law, and he would get that red-faced look of holding back joyful tears if he could hold the next generation of his namesake in his arms.

I'm not sure what my legacy will be... maybe dozens of inspiring books on theology, singleness, and how much God loves us.  Maybe I will foster dozens of Loves who need a safe place to stay for a while.  Maybe I will actually get to be a wife and a mother one day. Whatever it will be, I know that it will be what God has for me because I've chosen to follow Him no matter what.  

The uncertainty doesn't bother me anymore.

But I'm so glad that I can now be certain that my Daddy's jubilant spirit is coming forth in the life of my nephew.  That legacy is such a joy to watch. And such a gift from God.

Happy Thanksgiving, Dear Hearts.