I think everyone can say they have thought of this many times through out their life. And I would say the majority of us would say we want to be remembered as someone who made this world a better place. "She saved the world" I always imagined them saying. I pictured myself the GM of a minor league baseball team and running all of their non-profits and traveling the world helping those in need. Then Kayla came along...then Abby....then Claire. And now my biggest legacy most days goes something like, "well she didn't mess her kids up that much."
So I've been reluctantly holding off on this blog post because I was completely overwhelmed by the second and the third phase of Interrupted. I was back on my "save the world" bandwagon but I had no clue how a mom who can barely remember to brush her daughters hair every morning was going to possibly save the entire world, and raise 3 mostly well-adjusted daughters while still getting dinner on the table!
So I went along with my life hoping the opportunity I was supposed to take would come knocking on my door. And it kind of did, however it would be a few days before I realized it.
You see, in my mind, my "doing" portion of Interrupted had to be something huge. It had to come with a big calling from God that will completely wreck my life, but we will be the people who saved Wapakoneta (or something even bigger). But I wasn't getting that big message of how this was all going to go down, so I stressed and I got frustrated as I read on in the book. Then we met and our pastor's wife, Joy, made it all so simple, I almost felt stupid. She told me (and I wasn't alone in this stressing) to stop worrying and just look out our front door. There are people within our church doors who needed our love, as well as our neighbors. Our doing doesn't have to be how are we going to solve the poverty issue in our country, it's in our own neighborhood.
Now being stubborn, I jumped back at her with the big BUT....BUT I WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD? And because she is such a wise amazing woman of course she had my answer, change it one person at a time. When I left the church that night I can't lie, I kind of felt like an idiot, but I chalked it up to the massive sleep deprivation of having a non sleeping 4 month old. But for real, how could I have missed the point yet again.
Don't you see, we can change the world by just loving each other, you know just like Jesus loved everyone (are we catching on yet?). He went out of his way to hang out with those who needed friendship or healing the most, so why aren't we seeking out these people. What's funny is we had these neighbors who I had been avoiding because, well I have no good reason other than the previously stated sleep deprivation and selfishness. And the Friday before my realization something made me invite the girls over and the stories about their family life poured out like a fountain. And as this little 5 year old sat there telling me her stories I was heartbroken, and a little embarrassed, that I had let my selfishness stand in the way of some much need adult encouragement and attention this girl wanted. And that's all she wanted, was for an adult to sit and listen and after 15 minutes she happily walked herself home.
Why are we making it so difficult? Is it because we are more concerned about getting our name in the limelight instead of focusing on those around us who most need our love? We are afraid no one will remember the good work I did if it is only for those around me? Whatever the reason is for you personally, we need to look past that at the bigger picture. If we all looked out our front door and loved all of those crazy neighbors of ours (sorry if we are your crazy neighbors!) how amazing could this world be? If we stop focusing on our own minuscule problems and focused on others wouldn't life be a little more joyful? It doesn't t have to be some huge non-profit or church we start, it's as simple as being a responsible adult figure to the lonely neighbor child, helping a new mom who is struggling, taking dinner to a family whose parents are both working to make ends meet.
And maybe, just maybe, our greatest legacy as parents is raising children who grow up loving and helping others. Because if we can all raise our kids to look beyond themselves and worry about each other first, think how amazing this world could be for them.
So go look out your front door now, but only for a little bit. After that get out there and make your legacy.
