Friends, I’m not sure I can put into words the gratitude I feel right now. My family and I have been deeply touched by your messages of kindness and sympathy and love. There have been hundreds of notes sent our way.
It’s worth mentioning that for some reason there is a technical glitch that is hiding all of the comments left on my blog from the past few blog posts – including my post about How Jonathan Cultivated a Good Life last week and as of right now, comments aren’t even showing up on this post. We haven’t had a chance to look into this yet but hopefully those will show up again soon, as I especially want my family to be able to read all of your kind words.
In the meantime, I want to simply say (on behalf of my whole family) - THANK YOU. We are grateful for the kindness you have shown us during this transitional time. David and I and our children have just returned from spending several days with my family and many loved ones in Maryland. Brunswick is the little town where I grew up and where my parents still call home.
Our reunion was so sweet, so blessed, and truly a sacred time as a family. Without sharing anything too personal of course, I’d love to share with you a few images from this past weekend as we honored Jonathan and celebrated the life that he lived and the example he is to countless people.
Jonathan’s family lives just outside Frederick, Maryland where there is so much character. I love driving through downtown Frederick.
There are reminders of Jonathan all over Frederick County as he was a beloved architect and structural engineer that designed and managed a variety of building projects, such as this Board of Education building.
And this brand-new fire hall, which was his most recent pride and joy. He designed this beautiful facility for our hometown’s newest community – Brunswick Crossing. We got to tour the building and you can just see Jonathan’s attention to detail everywhere. How appropriate that there was a reception held in his honor in this very building after the funeral services.
If you read my tribute to Jonathan you might remember how Jonathan went to China and brought back ties to each of the young men in church that he was serving at the time. I was delighted to meet many of of those youth this weekend and was so touched by how deeply their lives have been blessed by Jonathan’s love for them, service on their behalf, and just plain dynamic example of what it means to be GOOD. This is one of those ties.
Speaking of young men, Jonathan’s almost-16-year-old son Spencer (#22) chose to play in his soccer game on Thursday night – just 2 days after his dad passed away. You better believe we were all there supporting him (and being the loudest section of the bleachers for sure).
For Friday evening’s viewing, we set up a display of many tangible reminders of Jonathan. As people came to pay their respects, the line was quite long and many reported to wait 2 hours before they were able to get to say their last goodbyes to Jonathan and give their love to Tina and my parents. This long display was something that gave them a few things to smile about and remember as they patiently waited and visited with others in that line. So many glimpses into Jonathan’s childhood, professional accomplishments, love for music and soccer, family life, community contributions, and of course evidence of his personal love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The day of the funeral was absolutely beautiful. Everything went so well. So many dear friends and members of the community bent over backwards to serve our family and pay tribute to my brother. There was an outpouring of love that is not describable.
{ what is certain to me }
1. Jonathan was remarkable. I mean – truly remarkable. I already knew that. He’s my big brother and I’ve always looked up to him. But to hear story after story after story from those who knew him in so many different capacities? This one man had an impact on so many people, and we’re all better for knowing him. My other 4 brothers and I have the very best oldest brother.
2. My family means the world to me. The family I came from. The family I’m raising. David’s family. The ancestors that came before us. Those who are yet to come in our future posterity. Family is everything. And families are forever. Relationships do not end. In God’s Plan of Happiness, he absolutely intends for us to be with those we love the most for the eternities.
3. Death is a very difficult thing. We all miss Jonathan. We are all grieving in our own ways. Just as it should be.
4. I’ve learned that one way I cope with this kind of trial is to pay tribute with words and pictures. Go figure. We have had many loved ones pass from this life, but never someone so close to me. Don’t worry; I don’t plan to go on and on so much like this with each person in my life that might pass away in the coming years.
5. People are so good. Sure, there are some human beings that truly missed the memo about how to cultivate a good life and they’re making poor choices that bring about unhappiness. But really – we are all innately so good. I constantly see and hear about so much service rendered and love offered. I’m the recipient of that. It’s the little things that bless people’s lives. It’s the little things that bring us happiness. It’s the little things that can lighten others’ burdens.
