Legacy

Here is one of my best friends in life:

Jessie

We were destined to be friends.  Literally.  Our grandparents are best friends.  My grandfather pastors our church, and hers is his associate pastor, and has been for 30 years.  Our parents grew up together.  My dad took her mom to prom (it was her mom's mercy-date; she was a senior, and he was a freshman).  But more importantly, her mom and my aunt were best friends when they were little.  My dad's little sister (my aunt) had cancer, and Jessie's mom was her very best friend.  My dad's sister died when she was 8, and the friendship became something that only bonded our two families together more.  Through the years, they have become family, in the best sense of the word.  Well, when Jessie and I were little, our families stuck us together, and we've been friends ever since.  Growing up, we had our on and off times, but it's only made us closer.

Last thursday, Jessie's grandma died of a heart attack, and the funeral was today.

It was one of the hardest that I have ever attended.  Their family is our family, and the legacy was just more set in stone today while everyone looked back on all of the memories and ministry our families have been in together.  The funeral was beautiful because she had lived such a long, full, life and had such a broad influence in the world.  It was amazing to see every person she had touched turn up this weekend to help and show love.  It warmed my heart to be not only best friends with Jessie, but part of their family.  I hope when we have little girls, they will be best friends, too, no matter where we live.  I am so thankful to be in the third generation of this legacy.  I only hope we can continue to touch the world like those before us have, and that our funerals will be as amazing.