Carol and I were not blessed with children or grandchildren. I think that is one reason I feel the need to share what I have learned over the years on my blog, so that members of my generation will be reminded and younger generations will hopefully benefit as they read my posts. A friend from Knoxville, Tennessee, who has spent 30 years on the road as a salesman, recently posted a list on Facebook of the things he has learned over those years and that he intends to pass on to his 9 month old grandson. I think his wisdom is worth sharing.
“There are things that matter – and things that don’t. There are three big teachers in life: heartbreaks, empty pockets and failures. Pay close attention to people who don’t clap when you win. Take risks; if you win you’ll be happy and if you lose you’ll be wiser. Let your faith always be bigger than your fears. Don’t quit too soon. Good things take time. Don’t talk too much. Pray daily and pray often. When you’re learning to walk and you fall down 100 times, you’ll keep pulling yourself up and try again. Remember this when you’re older and facing adversity.”
I’m sure any of us who have been blessed with a long life could compile a list of our own bits of wisdom we have acquired through the years; usually learned the hard way. Are we sharing that hard earned wisdom with the next generations? Those of you with children, grandchildren or even great grandchildren have the awesome duty and responsibility to pass on to those generations the wisdom God has given you.
God granted Solomon wisdom. In fact, he is considered to be the wisest man who ever lived (other than Jesus, of course). My daily devotions almost always include a verse or two from Proverbs, Solomon’s book of wisdom to future generations. Life is not long enough for us to learn all there is to know, but I still crave more wisdom after all of these years to apply to my everyday life and to share with others.
Politicians talk about their legacy. Each of us will leave behind a legacy of our own created with what mattered most to us. For some, it will be material wealth. For others, it will be fame or notoriety. But the greatest of all legacies are love, a personal relationship with God and wisdom.