Don’t read anything into this post or between the lines, but the adventures of the past three months have focused on my mortality. I am hopeful there will be many more years of blogging and sharing, but I’m also cognizant, as a septuagenarian, there is more sand in the bottom of the hourglass than on the top. And only the One who knows how many granules are left is my Lord.

One of the issues I’ve been facing is the legacy I will leave behind. I like to think it will be positive, as reflected in my writing and outreach. Whenever I pen a blog post … or share a message on social media as I do daily … or offer messages of hope {and sometimes with sarcastic humor} to family and friends, I try to focus on the positives and encourage all to look Up. I try to be the conduit and soften hearts to be receptive to the love of the God I know.

But I  also realized my sphere of influence would probably stop at that last heartbeat. Until this week.

I  am so proud my two oldest children appear ready to keep my message of positivity alive and continuing.

My oldest, Joe Jr., has been sharing messages of hope, motivation, and daily inspiration on social media as a springboard toward possible life coaching. A sample from today, for instance, reads, “We live in a world filled with pain and we never know the battle others are facing … today I challenge each of you to be a light on dark days. It’s the little things that matter. It doesn’t cost anything to be nice and you never how big of an impact it can have.” He started his latest venture with the words, “Let this be your year for change and let something good into your life.”

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the messages I post.

Just yesterday, my daughter Deanna launched a new website which includes her writing projects, services like editing and social media consulting, and a re-introduction of her blog. Her re-entry to the blog world was titled “Change the World” where she detailed the steps — the measured steps that included thoughtful prayer and overcoming her reticence to move beyond her comfort zone.

She noted,  “I have compiled some thoughts on how we could do some little things here and there in our everyday lives which, when combined with the forces of others doing the same little things, would have a great impact. Your words and my words; your kindness and my kindness; your generosity and my generosity – none of it will make a big impact on its own. But combined? Can you even imagine?

“You see, there is truth to the ripple effect. When someone experiences joy or feels hope or is energized by an interaction with me, they are changed, if even in a miniscule way. Those experiences then alter the course of their next steps. It is more difficult to be rude when someone has just shown kindness. We tend to encourage when we have been encouraged. When others are generous, we follow their lead. It is the ripple effect and it is magical in a way.

“In order to tap into the magic, I commit to sharing some thoughts and ideas for you and me to throw the first pebble into the water. The next step is yours and I couldn’t be more excited to see the ripples on the water of the world in which we live. Are you ready to change the world?”

I’m in … and I challenge all you to join in as well.  I’m also so thrilled because it was Dee who introduced me to the blog world. Well, actually, after years … and years … and years of procrastination, she set up my blog site.

I know Dee will do a great job. She did before.

When you put words “out there” you do so with some element of risk. I know that and she knows that. She promises not to post anything too controversial, stay away from the hot topics, and usually post about food, coffee, fitness, and Mr. Rawlings, her terribly rotten dog {her words}.

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the stories I post.

I hope to be sharing my thoughts and my faith for many moons to come, but my heart beats to a little happier rhythm knowing my legacy doesn’t have an expiration date. It will live forever through my children — all my children who each have unique skill sets.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. — Michael Jordan