Eulogy For Mother

I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge some of the people involved in helping turn my dreams of becoming a published author into a reality:

To my family – Dad, Mom, Mitchell, and McKenna – thank you for believing in me, for encouraging me, for teaching me, and for loving me well.

Dad, you’ve taught me how to live a life marked by godliness based on your heart and your character. You’ve imparted with me more knowledge than any teacher or professor has taught me. But most importantly, you’ve invested in me and taught me to rely on my heavenly Father before anyone else. Thank you for protecting me in the backwoods all these years, and for showing me how to embrace my father’s love – on heaven and on earth. I wouldn’t trade you for the world.

You’ve flown the skies with me now for twenty years. You were the one who asked to hold me before I was strong enough to hold my own weight. Still to this day, you’ve gone before me and always stuck behind, covering my front and my back sides. Thank you for being the greatest brother and friend I could ever ask for. You know me better than anyone our age, and point me back to Christ in every aspect of life. No matter where life takes you, I’ll always be willing to throw on a new cap, sit behind home plate, and cheer you on as your brother and best friend. I wouldn’t fly the skies with anyone

So, when I write this book, I often think of you. I think of your friends who will read this book. And I pray they will look to you and recognize how special you are. You’ve taught me to have a heart for people – to love by protecting the ones I love with God’s best interest at heart. There’s nobody in the world who will ever be my little sis but you. Nothing could change that. And I wouldn’t want to love and protect anyone else. You’re a gem – a real diamond in a broken world. Love you, sis.

Chauncey Franks, I know you hate me putting you in this, but I wasn’t about to publish my first book without your name in here. Thank you for your heart for people like me. You’ve dedicated your whole life to pointing younger adults to Jesus, athletes and non-athletes, and I’m one of many who live a different life because of your teaching and discipleship. I pray you never grow weary in doing good, as the apostle Paul wrote to the church of Galatia. May the Lord continue to use you in mighty ways, including through this