A Tribute to a Special Soul

“God looked around His garden and found an empty place. He then looked down upon His earth and saw your loving face. He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. His garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best.”

As the saying goes, the most beautiful flowers are often picked first, just as those that are brought up to heaven. We all know that Kerry was a good one and it’s no wonder why the heavens needed him more than the earth.

Although we will never know or understand why it happened the way it did, we can find peace knowing he is free of pain.

Even during his suffering, he always managed to find the positive and still crack a joke here and there. I vividly remember sitting around the table at my grandparents, not long after his diagnosis, and my uncle stating that the disguised blessing in all of this was getting the time to set his heart right with the Lord and be able to tell each and every one of his close friends and family how much he loved them. Despite the card he had been dealt, he still made it a priority to love on his people.

As I sit here writing this, my daughter cooing and smiling every time I look at her, I think it’s important that we are reminded to cherish those small, in-between moments, the ones that seem so minute until we look back and realize how special they really were. Think about the memories that you yourself shared with Kerry, big or small, and hold tight to those. Whether a conversation or significant event, don't lose sight of the emotions you experienced and take heart knowing you get to cherish those memories with him forever.

It has been an emotional year and a half filled with grief, mourning, and loss. As difficult as it has been, the Bible tells us that blessed are the ones who mourn, for they shall be comforted. I hope you all take comfort knowing that one day you will be reunited with that big smile and contagious laughter of his. Take comfort knowing that he is in a better place and with us all in spirit and heart. Take comfort knowing that you all have the loudest, wittiest, big-hearted guardian angel cheering you on.

When you get caught up in the mundane routine of life, slow down and take a moment to pause and pinpoint all of the little blessings because that is what he would want you to do.

May he live on through each of us and all of the cherished moments we had the pleasure of sharing with him.

Happy heavenly birthday to our beloved Kerry. We promise to celebrate you today and every day.