Leaving Great Legacies

I just finished reading a wonderful e-article by Steve Goodier with Your Life Support System about legacies that I felt was worth passing along. I’m sure all of us from time to time find ourselves wondering what kind of legacy we’re going to leave. Live Well Love Much Laugh Often This time of year also finds me feeling more reflective and generous minded as I’m sure others find themselves feeling a little more thoughtful and generous minded too. This story certainly struck a note with me. I hope it does with you as well. May we all live well, love much, laugh often and leave a legacy worth remembering!

Edwin Hubbel Chapin once said, “Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” That is the definition of a legacy. Wouldn’t you love to do something that might strike a beautiful chord that will “vibrate in eternity”?

I’ve discovered this about legacies — generous people leave great
legacies. I read about a couple in Canada who stopped to help a
motorist who had run out of gasoline. It was a regular occurrence intheir part of rural Canada. After they got him on his way, they boughta new fuel can, scratched their initials on it, filled it with petrol and stored it in the trunk of their car.

A few months later they again stopped to assist a stranded motorist. But this time they GAVE him their gas can and told him to fill it up, keep it with him and pass it along to the next motorist he sees who
has run out of fuel.

Though they never expected to see their can again, in a couple of
years they spotted it being passed along to a grateful motorist on the road. They recognized it several more times over the years, and each time they asked its owner where it had come from. They ascertained that the can had traveled across the continent at least two times!

They never intended to leave a legacy. When they bought the fuel can they never dreamed that their action might strike chords that could vibrate in eternity. But that container is probably still traveling across Canada in the back of somebody’s vehicle!

I wonder how many stranded motorists have been rescued by the
generosity of complete strangers who stopped to help? And how many have then taken the container, re-filled it, and finally passed it along to some other poor soul? Good will generated by a humble can of fuel has no doubt been multiplied many times in countless ways, striking beautiful chords that vibrate forever.

It’s true — generous people leave great legacies. Even that small
piece of yourself you freely give away may thrive in surprising ways throughout eternity.

— Steve Goodier

This is YOUR LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM, a free newsletter
sharing life, love and laughter, published by Steve Goodier.
http://www.lifesupportsystem.com

4 comments on “Leaving Great Legacies”

Beth Butler December 14, 2007 Reply

Sherrie – reading this makes me remember an experience I had many years ago. A road trip with 2 small kids crossing alligator alley in a driving rain storm at nightfall – suddenly a blow out. When I checked the spare in the rain and mosquito infested Everglades, it was flat. Needless to say, I had visions of headlines saying “Mother and 2 small children found dead in Everglades”. But then a gas truck traveling in the opposite direction pulled over. The man crossed the alley and had an air compressor to fill my spare – he was drenched and covered with mosquito bites. When I offered to pay him, he wouldn’t take a dime. I asked for his card to write his company to tell them what a wonderful employee they had… and he wouldn’t even give me that. I will never forget the kindness of this stranger who helped me out that day.
Sherrie Porter, CRP, GMS December 15, 2007 Reply

What a great story and I am so glad someone found it in their heart to stop and help you and the kids all those years ago. When we are on the receiving end of such kindness, it does stay with us forever. It also hopefully creates a “pay it forward” opportunity. Thanks for sharing Beth!
Rosa Sklavounos December 15, 2007 Reply

Wow, this brings back memories of something that happened to me many years ago. I was so young coming out of work from Merrill Lynch, this particular office was located in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was in the late hours. It was so dark, quiet, isolated, and cold. It had snowed quiet a bit. I ran to my car to find out that my car was stuck in the snow. I got desperate pressing on my accelerator thinking I would melt the snow around my tires (cell phones weren’t around as they are today). I was scared because it wasn’t the nicest area to be late at night. Out of nowhere I see an old man dressed in a long black trench coat and a hat. I couldn’t make out his face but I could see he was old and wonder if he would have the strength to push my car. As he was standing behind my car ready to push and giving me a hand signal to push on the accelerator. I wondered where did this man came from. I was surprised, happy and relieved. I pressed the accelerator, he pushed, and my car busted out of the parking space. I lowered the window and said THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! He just stood there and waived. He never said a word. As I got to the corner light, not very far from where I was, I looked back in the rear view mirror and I didn’t see him. This startled me and I went around the block twice. I couldn’t find him. How can someone so old walk so fast in the snow? It just didn’t make any sense! Why was he out so late in this isolated business district? At that point I realized that he was my guarding angel. I was soooo grateful!
Anabel Gonzalez December 17, 2007 Reply

I believe we are all surrounded by Angels, and we never know where or when they will show up!!! Just yesterday morning, I received a call from my college aged son that his car had stalled on his way to visit a friend in Orlando. He had no cash, had no idea what was wrong with his car and he was out in the middile of nowhere. About 10 minutes later he called and said “mom, don’t worry I found a ride home”. Of course a million things ran through my head, but I was able to speak to the nice couple who offered to drive him to his place in Winter Park. They were a retired couple who work with horses and disabled children. While on the way home, I sent a text to my son, saying “Are you ok? and he responded “mom these are the nicest people I have ever met. He took their address and I immediately sent them a Christmas card, which is such a simple gesture compared to the one they showed my son. It is moments like this, when we realize that all good deeds do not go unnoticed.

4 comments on “Leaving Great Legacies”

Leave A Reply Cancel reply