A thank you message from Kelly--Matt's Sister
In support of
The McGinnis Family
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The McGinnis Family
Today was hard.
Today we said a formal goodbye to my baby brother.
I stood on a stage in a church and looked out at a sea of more than 700 faces who turned out to join in our grief and help us celebrate a life well lived. Tonight, I am emotionally drained and physically exhausted, and somehow my heart feels both completely broken and incredibly full at the same time.
I saw faces from every season of my life and every season of Matt’s.
Family members who have been a constant throughout our entire lives. Neighbors from the house where we lived when I was six. Friends from the cul-de-sac where we played an immeasurable number of pickup baseball games. Classmates I walked the halls of high school with. Teammates Matt played countless sports alongside and coaches who helped shape the person he became.
Musicians who shared his love of music and played alongside him. Friends who stood up in my wedding and those who stood beside me at his. People who influenced my brother’s beliefs and shared in his walk with God. Kids he coached in football and wrestling. Coworkers and community members who never actually met my brother, but knew and loved someone who was grieving his loss, so they showed up to support them too.
And so many others that I don’t even know all the ways they were connected to him.
While I stumbled a little over my own words today, I was in awe of the strength of those who stood up and spoke—especially my extraordinary niece and nephew. I appreciated every story that was shared with me. So many I had never heard before, and quite a few of my favorites that I was grateful to hear again.
I am sad I didn’t get to talk to everyone who showed up. I know there were people in that room who meant so much to my brother and played an important part in making him who he was, and I didn’t get the chance to tell them that.
If you are reading this and I was lucky enough to talk to you today, thank you.
And to everyone I didn’t get the chance to hug, thank, or share a story with, please know how much it meant to me that you were there. I love you for what you meant to Matt, for the part you played in his life, and for showing up today to support all of us who are trying to figure out how to live ours without him.
More than 700 people walked through those doors today, each carrying some piece of my brother with them.
What an incredible thing it was to see just how far one life could reach.
I miss you, Matt. I think I always will.
Comments
Marcia.cutsinger about 1 month ago