Legacies

Author L.M. Haynes has created a children's book with a deep moral fabric in his book titled Legacies, which makes readers ponder the topic of what will be left to others after one dies. Just what would be your legacy left to others? He brings out the values needed to prepare for death by living your life in truth, tradition, unconditional love, and most importantly, having an unyielding faith in God.

Surely money is a part of a legacy, and it is pointed out leaving a deed for a home, or stocks and bonds, or any valuables to your surviving family is one common and key aspect. However, by using the narration of Father Ed within the book, the readers are shown that a personal hand-written letter to children, for example, with instructions "Not to be opened until after my death," can be a very profound way to implant a legacy of love, admiration, and proudness to children. He calls those "Letters of Love."

Forgiveness and unconditional love, as Jesus and The Holy Father teaches us, are qualities to form a legacy. By using the examples of pets, dogs and cats in particular, only wishing to receive love and give love, are illustrated both artfully in his drawings and articulated dearly in his text. Adhering to the traditions which surround the Christmas season also tells of the legacy of such customs which are passed down through generations.

The author goes on to tell the story about Brian Ketridge, age 11, when he was diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer. Brian's family escalated their grief as Brian grew weaker by the cancer, yet Brian's inner strength based on faith, demonstrated to others it isn't the length of time on Earth which values a life, but the blessings and love shared while alive. Brian never said, "Why me?"

The last chapter tells of the final days of Jesus when he arrived in Jerusalem, prior to his crucifixion and resurrection. With Biblical details, readers will be told the story in a way a young child could understand what happened. I noticed a "cameo" of one of the author's other books, The Christmas Time Travelers, being read to children as a bedtime story in an illustration.