How about: “…bring about greater change through diplomacy, like our mother once did, than the jedi path”?
I love the idea of Luke referring to their mother. Padme gets no love in the sequels! 😦
Luke: “I started to train her, but Leia was reluctant to follow the Jedi Path. She knew she could better serve the galaxy and its people through diplomacy, like our mother once did. She surrendered her saber to me and said that one day, it would be picked up again by someone who would finish her journey. A thousand generations live in you now. We’ll always be with you, but this is your fight.”
How about “She FELT she could better serve the galaxy…”