May we all leave a legacy of Godliness as Gina B. did

I am not one who panics, really, I don't

so it is known with people who I am close to that if

I panic then you should be worried.

Yet tonight, as I made my way to Gina B.'s

memorial service I was feeling panicky.

It all went away as I noted

the traffic jam on my way to Thibodaux Family Church.

Literally hundreds if not a thousand people were entering

to pay their respects to the wonderful person of Gina B.

I jokingly have said many times to my religion teens

I taught that when I died, I planned on leaving a legacy behind.

I wanted a packed church and people remembering me

for a long time to come.

I said this in a joking manner but have strived to have

my life be thought of as someone who tried to live

in the way of the Lord.

I was overwhelmed with the fact that my Gina B.,

she did just that. This one person, this one amazing

person left a legacy and if one person can touch this many

lives in 54 years of life, then as Rev. Bland said,

just think if we all strived to do just that.

We could wipe out crime, injustice....

Amazing is what this night was, amazing!

I love my Catholic faith, all about it and

yet I must give kuddos to the church of

Thibodaux Family Church.

They celebrated Gina B.'s life.

Each of her children, her siblings, anyone in her

immediate family who wanted to share did.

It was a true celebration of a life well lived.

I felt a love for each of the people there especially

my wonderful friends from TES.

I left there with the feeling that I want to do more

in His name. I left there no longer being sad for the

loss of my dear friend because once again I was

reminded that her job here was done.

Life, even in death is good.

I will miss her, my Gina B. but all the good she did

in this world lives in each of us who gathered in her name.

It has been an honor to be her friend.

I pray I can be half the disciple that she has been, not

to preach and lecture

but to live my life in a way that shines Godliness.

I have lots of work to do and as I said to a few friends today,

If Gina B. did not go straight to Heaven, then we can all

stop trying....