Embracing LOH Legacy: Multigenerational Vision

One of my core values is to fully utilize all resources, including tapping into untapped potential within those resources. I believe that being a good steward of God-given resources is a crucial virtue. In this case, it is about embracing the potential of our beautiful family—the LOH Legacy—and creating intentional efforts that have multigenerational impacts. Today is January 26, 2025, the day after I was born into this world (xx years ago). While I don’t place much significance on celebrating my birthday, I believe it is an important opportunity to choose to do something meaningful with the life I have been given.

Yesterday, we had a family reunion dinner that led to three key outcomes.

Outcome 1: Beyond a Simple Reunion Dinner

Our family has a longstanding tradition of gathering for Chinese New Year reunion dinners, a practice that spans decades. I can recall these gatherings at my parents’ house, my uncle’s home, and even in restaurants. This tradition is deeply embedded in our family legacy. However, this year, it became something greater than just a tradition.

When my aunt tasked me with organizing this year’s reunion, I didn’t see it merely as a responsibility. Instead, I viewed it as an opportunity to create something more meaningful—an event that transcends tradition. While Chinese New Year customs like dining together, playing games, and enjoying firecrackers are beautiful, I envisioned this as a chance to deepen our connections and foster significance beyond cultural practices.

This reminds me of the analogy of a family tree—an idea my cousin David once highlighted in another reunion dinner. Just like a tree, each generation is a branch, growing stronger and more expansive because of the roots planted by our ancestors. These roots represent our shared values, stories, and faith, anchoring the tree through time. And at the heart of these roots is Honouring God, the guiding principle that pulls us together beyond personal interests and comfort, driving the love and unity we share as a family.

Outcome 2: Mobilizing Key Contributors

Although I didn’t manage to enlist representatives from each family this time, I am planning to do so moving forward. The idea is to have a point person from each family unit who believes in the importance of our legacy and is committed to supporting this cause. Together, we aim to work toward a broader vision: the LOH Legacy.

This legacy is filled with untold yet beautiful stories that deserve to be documented and cherished. For example, we always assumed that my aunt was the first person in our family to come to Christ. However, she recently shared a story about our great-grandmother that deeply touched me. Our great-grandmother once expressed her admiration for the lifestyle of Christian families—how they were united and how family members truly came together. This admiration planted a seed for Christian faith in our family, which has since become a key force in pulling our family closer together.

The values of Overflowing Love and Honouring God are what fuel the family’s ability to overcome past hurts, rise above differences, and sustain our unity for generations. These values remind us to embrace one another with grace and purpose, ensuring the legacy continues for 14 generations and beyond.

Outcome 3: A breakthrough for LOH Legacy 2025—Multiple Reunions

This reunion dinner is no longer just an annual event. It now represents a breakthrough moment in our commitment to the LOH Legacy, with plans to hold three to four gatherings annually in 2025.

The goal of these additional reunions is to create more opportunities for family members to connect deeply, share stories, and celebrate our shared faith, love, and heritage. These gatherings are not just about tradition—they are about continuing the work of building a Lasting Legacy, fostering Overflowing Love, and learning to Honour God more fully as a family.

This reminds me of the analogy of gold. The LOH Legacy is like a precious treasure waiting to be unearthed. Through consistent effort and intentional gatherings, we can uncover its full value, refining it into something cherished for generations to come.

While I facilitated much of the preparation this year, everyone contributed in meaningful ways:

• Bringing food for the potluck.
• Renovating venues to provide warm, welcoming spaces.
• Traveling long distances to attend, despite challenges.

For these future gatherings, I plan to involve the younger generation more intentionally. By encouraging them to document stories, help organize activities, and actively participate in the creation of the LOH Legacy Book, we can ensure they take ownership of this vision and understand its significance.

Inspiration from Other Families and Cultures

The idea of building and sustaining a family legacy is not unique to us; there are inspiring examples from other families and cultures that demonstrate the power of intentionality and preservation:

1. The Rockefeller Family (USA): Known for their philanthropy, the Rockefellers have diligently documented their family history. They emphasize shared values, set long-term goals for their legacy, and use their influence to leave a positive impact on society. Their approach highlights how clarity of purpose and intentional documentation can strengthen family ties while benefiting others.
2. The Yamada Family (Japan): A Japanese family renowned for passing down their village’s history and culture through illustrated family books. These books ensure cultural preservation and provide younger generations with a strong sense of identity. The Yamadas demonstrate how storytelling can connect the past to the future, creating pride and continuity.
3. The Chettiars (India/Malaysia): The Chettiar community is deeply rooted in oral storytelling traditions. They emphasize family bonds and cultural pride, passing down their history through vivid stories about their migration, trade, and resilience. This tradition of sharing and celebrating their heritage keeps their values alive and strengthens intergenerational ties.

How These Examples Inspire the LOH Legacy

These families remind us that a lasting legacy is built with intentional effort, storytelling, and a shared sense of purpose. Like the Rockefellers, we too can document our family’s history—our LOH Legacy Book will become a testament to our values, faith, and unity. Inspired by the Yamadas, we can use creative ways to preserve our family’s culture and ensure future generations embrace their heritage. Finally, like the Chettiars, we can use storytelling to pass down our struggles, triumphs, and traditions, strengthening the bonds across generations.

As we reflect on these examples, it becomes clear that the LOH Legacy is not just about preserving our family’s history—it is about creating a legacy of faith, love, and unity that can inspire not only our descendants but also society at large.

LOH: The Essence of Our Legacy

As I reflect on everything this reunion represents, the LOH Legacy can be captured in three core values that define who we are as a family:

This is the essence of the LOH Legacy: building a Lasting Legacy for 14 generations, fueled by Overflowing Love, and grounded in Honouring God.

Conclusion: The LOH Legacy for Generations and Society

As stewards of this precious legacy, each of us has a role to play. Whether through storytelling, supporting family events, or living out these values, we are all part of this greater story. Together, we can ensure that the LOH Legacy is cherished and celebrated for generations to come and that it serves as an inspiration for others in society to build their own family legacies rooted in faith, love, and unity.