Tribute

Written by cycleguy on August 11th, 2014

I am not a football fan in all truthfulness. My favorite sports are baseball and cycling. However, if I was pinned down to choose a team it would have to be the Pittsburgh Steelers. I spent my first 18 years in a suburb of Pittsburgh. I now live near Indy so I am a Colts fan by osmosis. When I was a more rabid football fan (and I did used to be) I used to watch the clash of the titans. One of the classiest QBs to ever play the game was a man named Jim Kelly. Unfortunately, despite the fact he is a Hall of Famer, he has the dubious honor of being the only QB to go to 4 straight Super Bowls and never win.

I can remember reading about the death of his son to a fatal and rare genetic disease. He and his wife, Jill, handled that with grace and true class. Following his retirement and induction into the HoF, Jim was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer has returned and is wreaking havoc on his body.

But I am happy to say not on his soul. You see, Jim & Jill Kelly are devoted followers of Jesus.

My daughter, Tami, sent me a link to a blog post written by his daughter, Erin. It is touching and truthful. I’m not going to say any more except to ask you to take the few minutes it will take to read her post.

Such maturity-spiritual maturity-found in someone so young. My closest figuring is she is close to 17. I was moved by her post. I was grateful for her daddy’s legacy of hope. I am most grateful for my own hope of eternal life accomplished by Jesus with His death and resurrection.

Are you afraid to die? Do you have the hope Erin writes about?

 

17 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    This was a beautiful post that you directed us to. I suspect that Jim was beaming after he read this. I needed to read her words tonight.

  2. I don’t fear death, but I don’t relish dying.

  3. Pam says:

    Wonderful post, Bill. Thanks for sharing the link to Erin’s post. I am passing along her words of faith via Facebook.

  4. jeff says:

    No I am not afraid to die. And I do not share Erin’s belief in the afterworld. I do understand why some people cling to that idea though. It just doesn’t make sense to me. But each to their own.

    • cycleguy says:

      I know you expect this answer from me but I’ll give it anyway. I wish you did share that belief because it hurts my heart to know what awaits someone who does not believe in the resurrection. What if you are wrong?

      • jeff says:

        You sound just like my Sister. I really don’t do What If’s. I just prefer to decide based on evidence. And you and I have no evidence. So we will just have to wait and see. And I, and most of the world, are pretty sure there was no resurrection. So I think the odds are in my favor.

        • cycleguy says:

          if I sound like her then I must be in good company. 🙂 There is evidence jesus rose from the dead and I will stake my claim on that. If I’m wrong, I’ve lost nothing. If I’m right…

  5. Ben Nelson says:

    Thank you Pastor Bill, that was beautiful

  6. floyd says:

    Powerful post. God is preparing her for big things…

    I’m not afraid, but I have to admit that I’m apprehensive. God uses different ways to prepare some people, He used my dad… and things like this. Thanks for sharing, Bill.

    • cycleguy says:

      I think most would stand with you Floyd…of not being afraid but unsure how it will happen. I have a preference but know God is not tied to that. 🙂

  7. David says:

    That was a wonderful piece. Erin indeed shows a wisdom beyond her years. Thanks to you and your daughter for sharing it.

    I’m not afraid to die but I do hope God’s not done with me yet. As I look back I see I’ve left a messy trail of debris behind on the road thus far traveled. I can’t clean those messes, they’re in the past, so I’m working on keeping the trail “cleaner” as I move forward but I do still trip a lot.

    Do I have hope? Yes … maybe a bit hope-starved, but not hopeless …

    • cycleguy says:

      Those were my exact thoughts also David. She showed some wisdom that has been honed down through the years. From my viewpoint I’d say God is not done with you yet. You may be surprised what He is going to do.

  8. Jan says:

    Wow, I really have no words after reading Erin’s post, that was beautiful.