The Crest of Elder Forge
You’ll see the Elder Forge crest: two hands, one passing the hammer to another. It is the symbol of legacy: wisdom, strength, and courage carried forward.
The hammer is never meant to stay in one hand forever.
It is meant to be given, entrusted, passed down.
Sparks of Legacy
Elder Forge is a living archive. A collection of short legacies, sparks of wisdom, and sacred words that light the way forward.
Here, men and women share the moments that shaped them, the fire, the struggle, the grace so others can find light in their own journey.
🕯 How to Contribute Your Legacy 🕯
Reflect: What lesson, story, or truth has been forged in your own fire?
Write: Keep it short, honest, and from the heart (200–400 words works best).
Submit: Use the form below to share your reflection.
Review & Feature: Submissions are reviewed and selected to be featured on the Elder Forge page, honoring the stories that carry weight and light. Once published, you can scroll below to read the legacies shared by others.
Sparks of Legacy
Stories of legacy offered so the sparks that shaped one life can illuminate the path for another.
My dad passed a few hammers to me: the first hammer was simply his constant presence. He was “bigger than life” to me, and that gave me a sense of safety and security.
He also passed me a hammer of value. My dad always made me feel like I was valuable to him. That I was always welcome in his presence. That he was ALWAYS glad to see me.
Finally, my dad passed me the greatest hammer of all. The example of being faithful to God. Just seeing him studying his Bible in his chair so regularly demonstrated his love for God and for scripture. I am hoping to pass that very important hammer on as well.
These are some of the hammers I hope to pass on to my children and grandchildren as well.
-AW
The most valuable lessons my dad ever taught me weren't spoken, but lived. I've unconsciously carried these four principles into my own life and hope to honor his example by passing them on to my children.
He taught me that:
Children, regardless of their age, need to hear that you are proud of them.
In moments where you could seek revenge, you should instead show mercy.
You should always be willing to apologize when you are in the wrong.
You should always remain open to your faith of Jesus.
In sharing these lessons, I hope to continue making him proud.
-Jason
I just became a girl dad, and already I’m realizing that legacy isn’t always loud. That it’s in the quiet moments too. I want to pass on a life of steady faith, bad dad jokes, long hugs, and the kind of love that shows up daily (even when you’re sleep-deprived and holding a diaper like it’s radioactive).
But more than anything, I want my daughter to grow up watching how I love her mom. I want her to see what real love looks like—Through laughter in the kitchen, holding hands when we’re tired, forgiving quickly, praying together, and choosing each other daily. If she sees that, then she’ll know how to love and how deeply she’s loved too.
To me, legacy isn’t just about what we leave behind, but it’s about what we live out every day. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” I believe that inheritance is more than the physical, it’s faith, character, kindness, and a life anchored in Jesus.
-J
As a father of a now 6-month-old, the line between right and wrong has become crystal clear to me. Fatherhood quickly showed me the ways I needed to change so that I can pass on the best values to my son. Thankfully, I had great parents who built a strong foundation in me — and it’s that foundation I want to pass down. What does that look like?
Faith: Everything we do must glorify God. More than just a sense of obligation, it should be something we want to do. As the world grows more secular, we must stay anchored in Scripture so we don’t drift off course. My favorite verse speaks directly to this: Romans 12:2 — “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Kindness: This one is simple, yet so often misunderstood. Treat people with kindness — not because they deserve it, but because it reflects your character.
Joy: Life on this earth is a gift. Live it to the fullest. Step outside your comfort zone. Hike, swim in the ocean (even if it scares you, like it does me), skydive, bungee jump, or enjoy that over-the-top dessert.
Presence: As a dad, showing up matters. Be there daily. Say “I’m proud of you.” Play catch. Compete in an intense ping pong match. Work out together. Pray together. Do yard work together. Model what it means to be a present father and the spiritual leader of the household.
Honesty: Be truthful with yourself and with others. Stand for what’s right, but stay humble enough to admit when you’re wrong. True growth only comes when we’re honest about where we are and where we need to go.
These are the qualities I hope my son grows up to embody — the hammer I will pass down to him
-Eddie
Twenty-one years ago, my wife and I embarked on parenthood with the arrival of boy/girl twins. Needless to say, there have been many adventures over the years, both joyful and challenging, but most recently the adjustment to having adult children (who still live at home) has been our newest season of life.
Parenting can take a different shape when our “kids” are adults, but there are still constants that I desire to convey — and hope will resonate as they continue to grow. These constants have been “handed down” into my life and thinking through the family members, friends, and faith partners who I’ve come to trust most for their consistency, genuineness, and Christ-likeness.
- Understand who Jesus is, biblically. Trends, politics, and culture will continue to change and evolve. The character and mission of Jesus, however, does not change.
- Show the life of Jesus in your words and actions. Specifically, be gracious, be forgiving, and be willing to joyfully mirror the nature of a servant in both personal and vocational endeavors.
- Love unconditionally, especially within your family. As time marches forward, there will be elements of disagreement or even diverging views in matters of life and faith. Strive to learn, and show, that your love for one another does not hinge on needing to be perfectly aligned on every topic.
Know Jesus. Be like Jesus. Serve like Jesus. Love like Jesus. These are the hammers I wish to pass on.
-GR
When I was a teenager; uncertain, restless, and trying to figure out who I was…a man stepped into my life who wasn’t my father, but carried the weight and warmth of one. He saw something in me I couldn’t yet see in myself. He didn’t just offer advice; he offered belief.
I remember one moment clearly: I had failed at something I cared about, and I was ready to quit. He looked me in the eye and said, “You’re not done. You’re just beginning. You’ve got something in you that’s worth fighting for.” That sentence became a kind of anchor for me. It wasn’t just encouragement, it was a transfer of strength.
He taught me that presence is more powerful than perfection. That showing up, listening, and believing in someone can shape their future. Now, as I walk alongside individuals, regardless of age …my own children, students, or friends, I try to pass on what he gave me: not just words, but the steady hand of belief. The kind that says, “I see you. You matter. Keep going.”
This is my legacy. Not forged in grand gestures, but in quiet moments of faith passed from one hand to another.
-KB
I did not grow up with elders who handed me wisdom like heirlooms.
Most of what shaped me was absence. The missing warmth. The missing safety. The missing voice telling me I was wanted and kind and enough and wonderfully made. Isaiah 40:11 reminds me that God gathers the small and the unsure and carries them close.
But maybe that is its own kind of inheritance.
Because in the quiet spaces where no one taught me how to belong, I learned to build belonging slowly and gently, the way you mend a quilt from scraps. You take what little you have, stitch it with tenderness, and trust it will someday be warm enough to cover you. And maybe this is what Hosea 11:4 means when God says, “I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love.”
Here is the one piece of legacy I carry forward:
Be the gentleness you needed when you were small.
Offer it freely.
Offer it imperfectly.
Offer it even on the days you still feel a little unsure.
Sometimes the wisdom forged through suffering becomes the soft landing someone else has been searching for.
And if that is all I ever pass on, maybe that is enough. Maybe that’s grace. -HR
Don't allow your past to keep you from the blessings and opportunities of the present. Live in the presence of God today. -Phil
