I was 9 when my grandma passed away.

She was the closest thing to Jesus I had ever known.

The church couldn’t hold all the people who came to her funeral; a fraction of the lives she undoubtedly touched.

The people poured into every pew, every walkway, the balcony, the foyer, and out the door…. If you’ve heard that song by Tim McGraw “Standing Room Only” you might be able to picture what I’m talking about.

Even as a 9 year old girl, I could sense that something was different about my grandmother. A small town country girl – she lost her first husband when he was just 29 years old – she was left behind with two very young children to raise on her own… She was poor monetarily, but nobody had ever been richer in love.

She is proof to me that caring for people of all different colors, beliefs, backgrounds – just like Jesus did – really does stand the test of time.

I close my eyes and re-live the scene at her funeral, in that church, with more people than my little eyes could hold.

I see it now: the priceless value of investing in other people’s hearts… simply out of love.

No stage, no platform, no “look at me” agenda. Love.

That’s who she was.

That’s the legacy that lives on.

And I am so grateful that, although I was 9 when we lost her, I had a better example of pure love in her than most people have in their entire lifetime.

Her influence is what drives so much of what I do, the messages I speak, and my crazy-unapologetic, bold call to LIVE WHILE YOU CAN.

She was 54 years young when God called her home.

Live now.

Love your real life.

It’s such a gift.

And carve your name on hearts along the way…