Warning: I cried while writing this so I can’t guarantee that you won’t cry while reading it…
The past two weeks have left me in a complete emotional mess. Not all in a bad way, but this race has already proved to work on my heart like never before. Two weeks ago I was on my knees in tears surrendering myself to God because my fundraising was going nowhere. I was stubborn and thought I could do it alone. I was so wrong and in my weakness came His strength. Two weeks later I have over three times the amount of funds raised, exceeded my first fundraising goal, and I have been in complete awe of the love and financial support from friends, family, and complete strangers. To those who have been a part of this amazing showing of God’s grace, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have shown me the power of God to move in the hearts of so many. The biggest thing to come out of this influx in support has not just been the number of people choosing to give, but the stories behind their generous donations. Here are a few that have brought me more tears and memories than I ever imagined…
I have been told so many times in this journey that my grandmother would be so proud of the woman I had become. Unfortunately, she isn’t here to take part in this worldly adventure, but the legacy she left behind is enough to have me crying at any moment (including as I write this). I am the product of two amazing women who are no longer on this earth, but instead with our Father in Heaven; Mother Lillian and Pepye, as our family and friends called them (my grandmother and great grandmother). I never had the chance to meet mother Lillian, but I carry her with me everywhere I go, as I am her namesake and always will be. I had 22 amazing years with Pepye and I selfishly wish I had 22 more. These women were not just a typical strong Kirby woman. They were remarkable women that will never be forgotten by anyone that had the pleasure of knowing them. I have learned in my fundraising just how much on an impact that these two women had on people they knew. There are no words to describe the way that people light up when they mention either one of them. Pepye and Mother Lillian lived their lives as unselfish, dedicated, compassionate, strong willed and independent women of Christ. They moved hundreds of people with just a simple word or a smile. I am blessed to have been passed on all their traits and have them both running through my veins every day. A few of my donors have embarked on this journey with me simply because they knew and loved my grandmother and great grandmother. To think that their legacy is still alive and living through other people simply blows my mind and finds me in awe of them once again.
One donor said that she had watched me grow up and never second guessed supporting my trip, but she and another friend had decided to give their support in my memory of Kirby (mother Lillian). She said that the impact my great grandmother had on their families and children was so monumental that they couldn’t think of a better way to honor her memory than giving to my World Race fund.
Another donor was the best friend of my grandmother. I never had much interaction with her before Pepye passed away but in the years since she left us, this donor has become extremely supportive of my entire family. She was impacted in such a way by the love that Pepye showed to others, that she gave money to help me show that love around the world.
A third donor is another friend of these women and I have never met her. My father shared my story with her and within a week she had given a graciously generous donation. As I saw this donation go through I was in tears and there were no words to describe the feeling that came over me. This woman has never even met me, yet she was so close to my grandmother and had such a love for the gospel that she generously supported my race.
If you don’t know these women, then these stories may just seem like ordinary grandparents making a difference in their grandchildren’s lives long after they are gone, but these women were anything but ordinary. Up until the night she died, Pepye dedicated her entire life to serving my grandfather. She moved almost 15 times to follow him and she would have willingly done it 15 more. Pepye is one of the only women I know who could make friends with a waitress at a restaurant and strengthen that relationship enough that the waitress would attend her funeral and comfort my family. She was small in stature, but mighty in love and caring. She did anything and everything to serve others without wasting an ounce of energy on herself.
While I didn’t know Mother Lillian, I have been told stories of her resilience. Her ability to raise 3 kids after her husband died and the ability to care for the children of many others on a daily basis. She was the lady that everyone knew and loved. Her legacy was so strong that one of the children she babysat for has gone on to name her own daughter, Lillian.
Now for the real point of this blog..all of these memories that have surfaced from donors has really weighed on my heart about the impact that these two women left on this earth. They were Godly women, but nowhere near perfect. They made their fair share of mistakes, but the one thing they didn’t do was store up their worldly treasures. They were generous and shared everything with anyone they met. They showed Christ’s love for them to everyone they came in contact with and they left behind them a legacy of changed individuals. This adventure is changing the way that I see every word and action in my life. It is making me appreciate things that I passed by before and my relationship with God is growing stronger with each day. Many people are honoring two amazing women in my life by supporting my trip, and for that I am eternally grateful.
I pray that with this race I will not only honor the memory of these women and the influence that they had on my life, but through my work I will bring glory to God, the most high.
I hope you will all take a second today that think about those who are no longer with you and the impact they had on your life. Think about the emotions that come up when you hear their name or see something that reminds you of them. And then stop and smile (or cry tears of joy) because they are with our Father in Heaven, watching over us every day. Their legacy lives in our hearts and impacts us every day. Honor them and honor God with your actions and know that one day we will all sit together in God’s house, as one.
