Crawford Loritts and the Power of Living Your Legacy

I recently sat down and began reworking a series of messages I’ve given many times called “Leaving A Legacy.” Many of us have little idea of the impact we make on our family—especially on our children and grandchildren. The things you believe, the faith you live out and model in your life—the good and the bad—will be felt for longer than you realize. 

This is your legacy. The values you pass on to the next generation. It’s how people will remember you.  

But I realized that my focus on leaving a legacy was not the best way to think about it. “Leaving” your legacy implies that it’s done. Finished.   

So I reframed the message with both urgency and relevance and titled it: “Living Your Legacy.” It’s not done, but still in process.

The bottom line? How you live today, the sum total of all your choices, determines your legacy. Upon further reflection, I’ve noticed that changing the focus to today (and not some day in the future when you die) is much healthier.

I’m not done, and I’d suggest neither are you!

I’ve concluded: The legacy you leave is determined by the life you live.

So how do you and I learn how to live our legacy? One way is by hearing great stories of others who have lived well. And one of those people is my friend Crawford Loritts. Crawford is a former pastor, author, popular speaker, and faith leader. He and his wife Karen, were on the speaker team for FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember conferences for over 40 years, and he served on the board of directors for FamilyLife, Cru, and Chick-fil-A. And he’s been a great friend and advisor for nearly five decades. You can see this interview on our Youtube channel.

Crawford understands the topic of legacy more than most, and one reason is his connection to past generations. In our interview, he talked about the influence of his parents, and especially of his father. But it goes back further. He also spoke of the legacy of his great-grandfather, Peter, who grew up enslaved.

Crawford wrote in an article for FamilyLife:

“He died when my dad was still a young boy, but Pop said that he could recall Peter rocking back and forth, singing and praying on the front porch of the old homestead in Conover, North Carolina. ... 

“There were two things about Peter that have forged the direction of our family for these generations. One is that Peter had a heart for God. He loved the Lord Jesus with all of his heart. Peter’s singing and praying on the front porch were complemented by the passages of Scripture he had committed to memory because he had his family members read those passages to him over and over again.

“The other thing Peter had was a tenacious commitment to his family. Peter had three children. Two of them moved to other states, but my grandfather, Milton, remained in Conover to carry on the family tradition. Milton trusted Christ at an early age. He was a Sunday school superintendent and a friend of many, many preachers who “rode the circuit” to come and preach in Conover. Milton married my grandmother and together they had 14 children. My dad, Crawford, was the youngest of the boys.

“I never met my grandfather. He died in 1947 before I was born, but my father, aunts, and uncles used to sit back and tell stories about him when they were together. From all accounts, Milton was a man of impeccable character and great integrity. I heard time and time again that my father was so very much like him in terms of his perspective, character, and direction in life. ...”

“I don’t think a week goes by that I don’t think about my great-grandfather, Peter. I never met him. We can’t even find his grave when we visit the old cemetery behind the church in Conover. Yet I sometimes believe that I stand on his shoulders. The blessings that I’ve received in ministry, the opportunities, the recognition … I believe all these things are due to that man’s prayers setting the prayers of many others in motion.”

When Peter Loritts was singing and praying on his front porch so long ago, do you think he had any idea that his actions would still be inspiring his descendants over a hundred years later? 

In the same way, your life will influence your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in ways you can’t imagine. Even after you are long gone. 

Will they remember you as someone who modeled integrity and faithfulness, someone who knew God and walked with Him according to the truth of His Word?

I hope you watch or listen to my interview with Crawford Loritts. In part one, he talks about the meaning of courage, the importance of God’s Word, and the most courageous thing he’s ever done. Next week, in part two, he describes the influence of his father and talks about his grandfather, Milton, and great-grandfather, Peter. Crawford always comes up with profound quotes, and you’ll find a lot in these two episodes!

Your life has a greater impact on future generations than perhaps you can believe.

Your choices today are a part of the legacy you are living and will leave to future generations. Choose well!