Adversity: Learning Legacy from Others
My friend Nick has taught me that the best lessons in life are learned from people. When my son Luke had his 6th birthday party recently, Nick climbed in and played with him in the bounce house. The kids jumped for hours, had cake and hot dogs, and Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms or legs, was right there beside them. One of my most favorite photos in the world is of Nick and my two sons hugging in the bounce house.
It felt like a once in a lifetime moment: witnessing ten neighborhood kids watch in awe as Nick traversed the giant rock wall, rope in his mouth, and reached the summit. What was going through their minds as they watched Nick? I wonder…
When you’re with Nick the first time, it’s pure amazement. It’s not long after you forget he’s different than you or me. There have been many days and nights like the birthday party scene at our house, and I consider those times “Legacy Days.”
A Legacy Day is like a direct gift from God for the kids, where they’re exposed to a life lesson that will change them forever.
I’ve got a friend who is constantly taking her kids to get autographs from NFL players. Her Facebook photo today is in a stadium somewhere beside a football player!
They have come to idolize athletes so much that every time we see them they bring an autographed hat, jersey or shoe to show us. My 8 year-old didn’t seem too impressed with the signed sneaker his friend showed him.
He politely smiled, but I could tell he didn’t get it.
At all.
He’d just spent the entire day swimming in the deep end of our pool with a guy with no limbs.
Things like that make an impact on your soul.
When you can place your kids with someone who teaches then lessons of overcoming adversity, achieving success, and living with no limits, their inner world is transformed. I respect athletes, don’t get me wrong. However, when my boys can play soccer with Nick, buy groceries for kids who lost their house in a tornado (and see that they’re still smiling), or take a joyful homeless man out for lunch and listen to him read the poetry he’s composed himself, life takes on new meaning.
Seek out someone for a deliberate Legacy Day this summer, for you and your kids.
What will they learn from all of this?
Compassion, love, giving, survival, how to have joy in adversity, and so much more than they can ever learn at school.
How will you create a Legacy Day for you and your kids? Why do you think it’s important to teach your kids about legacy?
Tammy Kling is a life coach, advocate for the homeless, and international author of 29 books including The Compass. Tammy is also the founderr of Write it Out, an organization that helps gang members, the homeless, and those living on the street write out their hopes & dreams via writers workshops, free journals and various other resources.
In addition to writing and coaching, Tammy is a mom of two boys, an avid trail and mountain runner, blogger, and adventure travel writer.
I think this is SO beautiful! The experiences you are giving your children will shape them into thoughtful, caring, compassionate and loving adults. That is all I really want for my children.
We have recently had 2 experiences in order to create a “Legacy Day” for my kids. First, we gave unexpected treats to the trash collectors and mail carrier. We invited the neighborhood children to do it the second time we did it at Easter. Here is the link:
http://www.handsfreemama.com/?p=820
And also, we have allowed my oldest daughter to sponsor a child in Africa. She chose the girl from an array of pictures and now corresponds with her. Here is the link to that experience.
http://www.handsfreemama.com/?p=1265
I think the messages you are writing are so inspiring. Thank you for making this world a better place!