Redefining Legacy: Why Every Single Woman Needs an Eternal Vision

I’ll be honest with you: I didn’t actually finish this book yet. I’m about halfway through, but even the first half of "The Legacy Life" by David Green has given me so much to chew on that I had to share it with you.

As a single woman, the word "legacy" can feel a little... well, irrelevant. The subtitle of David Green’s book is “Leading your family to make a difference for eternity,” and since he’s the founder of Hobby Lobby, he talks a lot about generational and business legacy. It’s easy to pick up a book like that and think, "This isn't for me yet. I don't have a husband or kids. I'm not building a family empire."

But as I was reading, I realized how important it is for us to have a "mega legacy" mindset right now, regardless of our relationship status.

Living for More Than the "Here and Now"

One thing that really struck me is how often we, as single people, tend to dream about the future in a way that revolves entirely around what we get to do (or don't get to do) in this life. We think about when things will happen or what they’ll be like.

But our lives shouldn’t be just about the here and now. We have an eternal life! Our identity is in Christ, and that means we can have an impact for eternity even if we aren't currently raising a family. Whether I get married or I don't, I want my life to mean something to the Kingdom of God.

Avoiding the "Transactional" Trap

I’ve talked about this before, but it’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that building a legacy means being "busy" for God. You know the drill: being in church every time the doors are open, going on every mission trip, and signing up for every ministry.

While those are good things, I don't think that's the point of a legacy life. Sometimes all that "doing" actually draws us away from God. Our relationship becomes transactional—it becomes about the work instead of the communion. I don't want people to just say, "Oh, she was a kind person who gave her time," and have that be the end of it. I want my life to be centered on seeking Him first.

Why You Need a Personal Vision

In the book, they talk about the practicals of developing a mission statement and defining your values. Even as an individual, I think we need to define those things for ourselves.

• What am I doing with my life? * Why am I doing it? The Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." We have to have a direction. We have to have a reason why we hold our convictions.

Maybe the skills and talents the Lord has given you in this season are actually preparing you for the next one. You might be developing things now that will benefit a future husband or children down the line—or maybe it's just for the impact you're having on the people around you today.

Don't Just Twiddle Your Thumbs

My goal is to encourage you to find joy in this season. We shouldn't be just twiddling our thumbs waiting for "real life" to start. We should be thriving in the Word and growing in our relationship with Jesus right now.

I’m definitely going to finish the rest of the book to get into the more practical steps they suggest, and I’ll be sure to share more as I learn. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you.

Have you read "The Legacy Life"? Or do you have any other book recommendations that have helped you shape your vision for the future? Let me know in the comments!