Leaving Behind a Spiritual Legacy with Guest Lisa Jordan

by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan

One of the greatest blessings in my life was having Christian grandparents who planted seeds of faith from the time I was very young. Growing up down the road from my grandparents’ dairy farm, many of my happy memories are filled with bottle feeding calves, the rope swing in the hay barn, swimming and camping by the creek (pronounced crick, by the way J ) that cut through their property, noisy family get-togethers, and the values of faith, family and hard work instilled by my grandparents, my mom, aunts and uncles.

However, my grandma’s sudden passing in February 1985 was a turning point in my life. She’d been my rock, my safety net, and she was gone when I needed her the most. I was so mad at God that I turned my back on Him for 13 years.

But, you see, my grandparents left behind one of the greatest gifts—a spiritual legacy. They were the real deal, y’all—(ok, so I’m not Southern, but the y’all just fits here.) Their Bibles were worn from daily use, their knees calloused from constant prayers, and they didn’t live to see all of the fruit yielded from the seeds they had planted during their many years teaching Sunday school and living out their faith. 

Despite walking away from my faith, those seeds began to bloom. Even though, I crowded them with weeds of poor choices, the roots remained strong.

Then, during a cold, ordinary Wednesday in February—fourteen years after my grandma’s death—I rededicated my life to Christ. My aching heart grieved over the mistakes I’d made and the loved ones I’d hurt as I poured my pain and anguish out to Jesus. Being the amazing Gardener that He is, He continued to prune (and still does), cutting away those dead branches bearing no fruit. Now, I strive to follow in my grandparents’ footsteps—teaching Sunday school and living out my faith in an authentic manner. And being obedient to the call God has placed on my heart—writing stories that promise hope and happily ever after. All because of the spiritual legacy that had been left behind after my grandparents passed.

When I finished my Lakeside series with Love Inspired and considered what to write next, I was inspired by my childhood and the legacy of faith my grandparents had left behind. I see it so vividly during our annual family reunions. That sparked the idea of the Holland brothers, beginning with Jake.   

The Holland family, comprised of Chuck Holland and his four sons—Jake, Tucker, Evan, and Micah, understand the pain of devastation and loss. However, as they walk through their own stories, they’re reminded there’s always hope in the heartache.

In Season of Hope, the first book in my Holland Brothers series, which releases in stores today (!!), Jake wants to pass down a legacy by creating a Fatigues to Farming program that will help veterans with disabilities learn farming in order to start their own small businesses. It’s his way of making amends and keeping a promise. Jake wants to offer hope to those who feel helpless. And in his mind, that legacy is tied to a place—his family farm. But his ex-wife’s sudden reappearance in his life...and his community...creates conflict for his plan.

Later in the story, Jake is talking with his dad about leaving behind a legacy. And Chuck tells him,  “Son, a legacy isn’t a place or a thing. A legacy happens through the people you love and the lives you change. It’s rooted in faith and integrity. Find your hope, then work like crazy to hold on to it. There’s always hope. Even in the heartache.”

When I created this series, I wanted to show how the Holland brothers’ realistic problems pave the way to finding their hope...and their faith. Faith is believing without seeing, and when we’re walking through the valley of darkness, it can be difficult to keep the faith and see the Light. No matter what challenges we’re facing, though, God is with us every step of the way, waiting to lead us through those difficult seasons. So I encourage you to hold onto the Hope no matter your season in life.

You can read the first chapter of Season of Hope here: Season of Hope chapter preview

I’m giving away one autographed copy of Season of Hope to one commenter. Please leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

I’m doing a Down on the Farm giveaway for my newsletter subscribers. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter, you can sign up here: Lisa Jordan’s Newsletter

Your Turn: How has your faith helped you to find Hope in the heartache?

Season of Hope

His dreams can all come true…but only if his ex-wife will agree!

Jake Holland’s peaceful dairy farm is a sanctuary—one he wants to share with other worn and weary veterans. He just needs one more piece of land to start his program…and it belongs to Tori Lerner, his ex-wife. A collaboration could benefit them both, but with a past full of secrets between them, is there any hope for renewed love?

Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, Season of Hope, releases in March 2019. She is the Operations Manager for My Book Therapy, an online writing site that teaches writing craft, coaching, and building community. Happily married to her own real-life hero for thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys family time, kayaking, good books, and creating with words, stamps, fibers, and photos. Visit her at lisajordanbooks.com.