Are you leaving a legacy of love? Take the Legacy Quiz
- Rachel Mapp
- Aug 4, 2016
- 4 min read
We all have good and bad parts to the legacy we have inherited. The key is to move forward from here. For some, taking a closer look at the legacy they've been given helps them assess the legacy they want to pass on. After considering your past, here are some practical tips for the future:
Decide what you'll keep: You probably have things you received that are wonderful and need to be kept and passed on. Other things may need to be thrown out. Or, perhaps you have a weak legacy that needs strengthening.
Whatever you received, you can now intentionally pass along the good. This isn't always easy. If you saw hypocrisy in your parents' lives, you may be tempted to throw everything out even though much of what your parents modeled was good. Don't. That would be like burning down the house to get rid of some bugs.
Realize that God can redeem even the "bad stuff" in your legacy. Unfortunately many of us have parts of our legacy that are weak or even awful. Maybe one of your parents was an alcoholic or abusive or didn't provide the nurturing you needed. In today's society, the stories of such families are common. You may be asking, "How do I give something I didn't receive? Nobody modeled this stuff for me."
Hope is not lost. Consider the story of Josiah from the Old Testament in the Bible. His father and grandfather were involved in many wicked things, including idol worship that threatened the entire nation. But after 8-year-old Josiah became king of Judah, he reversed that trend. He sought God and purged Judah of idols, repaired the temple and saved a nation.
Like Josiah, you can choose which things in your legacy are no good and throw them away. It's important to break the cycle of hurt by leaving bad things behind and creating a new legacy. If you don't know God, this is a good time to introduce yourself. Legacies are not easily broken and always benefit from His guidance.
Chart a new course as you begin a positive legacy for yourself and those you love. Research suggests that most fathers will parent the way they were parented. That means only a minority of fathers will change their parenting style — even if their parenting is wrong! Today, you can take positive steps to design a new heritage for yourself and your family.
Take Your Legacy Quiz
Emotional Legacy Evaluation
Answer each question by circling the number that best reflects the legacy you have received from your parents. Then add up your score.
1. When you walked into your house, what was your feeling?
Dread
Tension
Chaos
Stability
Calm
Warmth
2. Which word best describes the tone of your home?
Hateful
Angry
Sad
Serious
Relaxed
Fun
3. What was the message of your family life?
You are worthless.
You are a burden.
You are okay.
You are respected.
You are important.
You are the greatest.
4. Which word best describes the "fragrance" of your home life?
Repulsive
Rotten
Unpleasant
Sterile
Fresh
Sweet
5. Which was most frequent in your home?
An intense fight
The silent treatment
Detached apathy
A strong disagreement
A kind word
An affectionate hug
Results:
Above 24 = Strong emotional legacy
19 - 24 = Healthy legacy
14 - 18 = Mixed legacy - good and bad elements
10 - 13 = Weak emotional legacy
Below 10 = Damaged emotional legacy
Social Legacy Evaluation
Answer each question by circling the number that best reflects the legacy you have received from your parents. Then add up your score.
1. Which words most closely resemble the social tone of your family?
Cruel and abusive
Cutting sarcasm
Chaotic and distant
Noncommunicative but stable
Secure with open communication
Loving and fun
2. What was the message of your home life with regard to relationships?
"Step on others to get your way."
"Hurt them if they hurt you."
"Demand your rights."
"Mind your own business."
"Treat others with respect."
"Put others before yourself."
3. How were rules set and enforced in your home?
Independent of relationship
In reaction to parental stress
Dictatorially
Inconsistently
Out of concern for my well-being
In the context of a loving relationship
4. Which word best characterizes the tone of communication in your home?
Shouting
Manipulation
Confusing
Clear
Constructive
Courteous
5. How did your family deal with wrong behavior?
Subtle reinforcement
Accepted in the name of love
Guilt trip
Severe punishment
Discussion
Loving, firm discipline
Results:
Above 24 = Strong social legacy
19 - 24 = Healthy legacy
14 - 18 = Mixed legacy — good and bad elements
10 - 13 = Weak social legacy
Below 10 = Damaged social legacy
Spiritual Legacy Evaluation
Answer each question by circling the number that best reflects the legacy you have received from your parents. Then add up your score.
1. To what degree were spiritual principles incorporated into daily family life?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Almost always
Consistently
2. Which word captures the tone of how you learned to view/relate to God?
Absent
Adversarial
Fearful
Casual
Solemn
Intimate
3. How would you summarize your family's level of participation in spiritual activities?
Nonexistent
Rare
Occasional
Regimental
Active
Enthusiastic
4. How were spiritual discussions applied in your home?
They weren't
To control
To manipulate
To teach
To influence
To reinforce
5. What was the perspective in your home regarding moral absolutes?
If it feels good, do it!
There are no absolutes.
Let your heart guide you.
Dogmatic legalism
Moderate conservatism
Clear boundaries
Results:
Above 24 = Strong spiritual legacy
19 - 24 = Healthy legacy
14 - 18 = Mixed legacy — good and bad elements
10 - 13 = Weak spiritual legacy
Below 10 = Damaged spiritual legacy
From Your Heritage, by J. Otis Ledbetter and Kurt Bruner. Used by permission of Chariot Victor Publishing, a division of Cook Communications Copyright © 1996.
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