Leaving a legacy...

How would you like to be thought of when you die?

What kind of legacy do you want to leave for this world?

Source: eighttentenblog.blogspot.com.au via Megan on Pinterest

Do you want to be remembered as being a wild and crazy risk taker? Careful, thoughtful and organised? A passionate and loving friend?

I want to be remembered as being kind.

As it says in Luke 6: 32-36

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Being kind is something that has been playing on my mind a lot this year, and it’s an area I’m feeling the need to explore. What does it mean to be kind? Is there such a thing as true kindness – or do all good deeds come with the expectation of an eventual payoff, be it tangible or emotional?

It’s a truly amazing thing to experience giving without the expectation of some type of return. I see people every day who are shining examples of kind souls - teachers, nurses, friends, co-workers, bosses, the well off, and the needy.

To be kind not only includes being seen to be doing good things for the world, but to be doing good deeds, time and time again with little thought for your own needs, but rather believing that the needs of others are (at least at that moment) more important than your own and acting accordingly.

Kindness can come in many forms and if I can be remembered as being kind, even by just one person, well, then that’s all the return I need.