Legacy
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dalecoffman
 November 23 2023
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    One of the subjects I've taught for many years is "Leadership". One book on leadership that has made a lasting impression on me is John Maxwell's "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership". John devotes the last chapter, the last irrefutable law, to legacy. A recent post on this topic presented two conflicting views on whether leaving a legacy is important.

    One day toward the end of a class period, one of my students asked me, "So what does this all mean? Why are we here?" Because I was teaching in a public school, I decided not to wade into the religious answers to the student's question. I simply said, "If nothing else, try to leave the world a better place than the one you were born into." 

    Leaving a legacy (a good one) is one of my life's goals. That is why I get my extended family together every other year. I want to leave a legacy of a tightly knit family that is always mutually supportive. I want to leave a legacy of love and kindness, of care and goodness. If I can accomplish just that, I will consider my life a success. Having accepted Christ as my personal savior, I know where I'll be after my body dies and I want to make certain that I will see my children and grandchildren there.

    Following an event at my school last spring, a small group of students had gathered around me, trying to convince me that I shouldn't retire. It was a very touching moment, but one student made a statement that caused me to give pause to my retirement decision. She said, "You taught us about life". That is the only time I ever had second thoughts about my retirement. For me, that was a powerful moment. And it is times like that that convince me that "legacy" is critically important.

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