Dear Theodosia…

If I want to live my life to the fullest, I need to remember those who will live on after me.

Good morning!

What will you leave behind for the next generation?

I was listening to the Hamilton soundtrack this morning — I’m going to watch the movie/recording once again tonight — and I was once again moved by both fathers singing to their newborn children, especially with the following lyrics:

“You will come of age with our young nation // We’ll bleed and fight for you, we’ll make it right for you // If we lay a strong enough foundation // We’ll pass it on to you, we’ll give the world to you // And you’ll blow us all away…”

That just melts my heart; here are these men — fathers — singing to their children, dedicating their lives to their work — not for money or personal gain, but so that their children would have solid foundations to build their lives off of & flourish in the world left behind.

I’m not a parent, and won’t be one for many years, but whether you’re a young man or a grandmother, this morning I want to ask you this: what kind of world do you want to leave behind when you’re gone, and what little things can you do to make the world a better place for those who will come after you?

Listen, let’s not live as if the world is going to end soon. Disasters have come and gone, and the cycles will continue repeating far beyond all of our lifetimes. Keeping that question before ourselves and living with intentionality — as opposed to living recklessly, thinking that the world is already doomed — may just be the thing that helps them in the long run.

God bless you, have a great extra-long weekend!

-/-/-/-

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