After 25 years in the Counseling Profession and living in a region in North Central Wisconsin that has been a national leader in suicide rates, I have found the lack of hope to be a major factor in people’s decision to end their own live’s.
Many people may not be to that depth of hopelessness, but they often give up trying to fulfill their dreams because they don’t feel that they 
have anything to offer or that they have failed too much. They haven’t found their absolute incomparable value that they have been given in being the vessel/instrument/branch they were created to be. I call this process the “Paradigm of the Faucet” because considering ourselves spiritual vessels bringing HOPE to a thirsty world is indeed a new concept for many in the world today. One that needs to be considered.
SO WHAT IS A LEGACY ANYWAY? There are lots of dictionary’s out there now and for this word I think the most fitting definition comes from The Free Dictionary and it says to “leave a legacy” means to (Accomplish), verb bring about, dedicate, enrich, fulfill, bring about, make a contribution to society, minister, pass down, realize, redound to, succeed.
WHAT IS HOPE? The first thing to realize is that God created you for a purpose and He has a plan for your life that is not about calamity and chaos but for goodness and hope. Our purpose is to be His vessels and to pass on the message that everyone has a specific set of skills, talents, gifts and experiences that no one in the world has ever been able to do or ever will be able to do because they were created especially for that mission.
The most accepted definition of hope that is relevant to where MY hope comes from is; “Hope is the confident expectation, the sure certainty that what God has promised in the Word is true, has occurred, and or will in accordance with God’s sure Word.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (NIV)
LEAVING A LEGACY OF HOPE then is really about dedicating ourselves, enriching the lives of others, fulfilling the mission we have been given, bringing about a sense of hope for others, making a contribution to society, ministering and helping those in need, passing down the truth that we have come to know about what our creator has called us to do this week, realize our value and the incredible value of each person out there, redound to (contribute greatly to a persons great honor) and succeed in fulfilling that to which we have been called.
If you don’t know how to leave your Legacy of HOPE please get in touch with me! Your story is your legacy and it needs to be told. People need to hear how you have survived to this point in your life and what you have learned. Take the time to write it down, record it, video tape it, and get it out there. You will find the blessings come to others and back to you when you just be yourself and share what you know.
