WHAT GOOGLE CAN’T TELL THEM ABOUT YOU

by Phyliis Jenkins

I was all set to write about rotary phones, television antennas, typewriters, and all the other things many of us grew up with before technology took over our lives. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that’s not what I miss most. As I reflected on the past, I found myself thinking less about the things we used and more about the people who shaped us, the lessons we learned, and the memories that still live in our hearts.

So, allow me to take you down memory lane for your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and future generations to know ‘you.’ These are things Google can’t share with them about you, things they need to hear or read in your own words. That’s why I’m going to help you gift your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and future generations with what I call ‘My Legacy Love Letter.’ Okay, I see your eyebrows raised as if to ask, “What’s a legacy love letter?” I’m so glad you asked. But first, let me share my ‘why’ for creating the Legacy Love Letter. Since the passing of my father and mother, as well as both sets of grandparents, I have questions I long for answers to. Questions I didn’t think of when they were alive. So now I’m writing my Legacy Love Letter to my children, grandchildren, and future generations.

A Legacy Love Letter is a heartfelt gift from your heart to the people you love. It is your opportunity to share your memories, life lessons, values, faith, and words of encouragement with future generations. They will feel your love for them on every page you write. They might also find answers to why they do certain things.

The good news is that this doesn’t have to be complicated. Grab a notebook and a pen. If you prefer, write in a journal. If you’re more comfortable typing, open a document on your computer. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. The important thing is simply to begin.

To help you get started, I’d like you to complete the following five sentences. Don’t overthink your answers. They can be a few words, a few sentences, or even a full page. This is your story, and the only rule is to answer from your heart.

1. One thing I want you to know about me is…..

2. One lesson life taught me is…..

3. One thing I believe with all my heart is…

4. One thing I hope for you is….

5. One thing I never want you to forget is….

As you look back on your answers, you may notice something interesting. What began as a simple exercise may have stirred memories you haven’t thought about for years.

Perhaps you remember a teacher who believed in you. I immediately thought of Mrs. Ruby Fuller, my third-grade teacher. Maybe you thought of a parent or grandparent whose wisdom still guides you. You may have recalled a difficult season that felt impossible at the time, yet God brought you through it. Or perhaps you found yourself smiling as you remembered a special family tradition, a childhood adventure, or a life-changing moment. Those memories matter.

As we reach this season of life, we begin to realize that our greatest treasures are not stored in a bank account, a closet, or a storage unit. They are stored in our hearts and minds. They are the stories we carry, the lessons we’ve learned, the values we’ve lived by, and the people we’ve loved.

One day, future generations may inherit our jewelry, family photographs, furniture, recipes, and other keepsakes. These things are precious. But what many families long for most are the stories behind them.

They want to know what made us laugh, what kept us going during hard times, what we believed, what we dreamed about, and what we learned from our mistakes. They want to know who we really were.

That’s the beauty of a Legacy Love Letter. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be professionally written. It simply needs to be honest. It is a gift that says, “This is who I was. This is what I learned. This is what I want you to know.”

As we reflect on the past, we often consider how much the world has changed. Technology has evolved. Entertainment has evolved. The way we communicate has evolved. Yet one thing remains the same: every life has a story worth remembering.

After all, the people who come after us may inherit our possessions, but it is our stories that help them know us.