McKenna, I write to you now for I know you watch over myself and so many others now. I just need to thank you for changing my heart. For showing me that kindness goes farther than so many things in our world. That making someone's day will change their lives. I love you, your family loves you, this campus loves you and most importantly God loves you. He is so happy to have you there with him now. To have your grace and kind heart in Heaven.
Although we miss your physical presence here on Earth, we feel your legacy all around us. Your passions and strengths have left a mark on this world that will never be worn away. You have personally left a handprint on my heart, one that will stay there forever. I am beyond grateful for the time we had together, but I yearn for more often.
Over the past two days, I was able to experience places you lived in, places your kindness reached. Mataya and I ate at your favorite restaurant and I tried sushi, but only for you. I ended up liking it which was even better. We walked around your hometown and found a candy store where we stocked up for the drive home the next day. We tried to take the Metra, but failed. And walked around Geneva... eventually finding the street sign you took a photo at years before. We wished you had been showing us these places, but through the sun I could feel you there with us. Holding our hands and walking beside us as we tried to understand you more. Love you more.
These days, they were the closure I needed to understand that you were gone to our Earthly understanding. But, by the Grace of God, I know that one day I will meet you again in Heaven and you will be there waiting for us with open arms, your smiling radiating towards me, welcoming me to my Eternal home.
Love your forever sister in Christ, Bina <3
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23: 1-4
To Dan, Susie and Joey:
This verse helped me through the past week in ways that I cannot fathom to put into words, for the Lord only knows the fear that this loss brought for me. The outpouring love that was received by your family this weekend says so much about your daughter. She truly changed my heart and made me realize what true inner beauty looked like. Every story I heard over the past week has made my heart weep for more time with her, for more time to become more like her, to become as Christ-like as she was.
I plan to use this as a reminder every day to be the kind of person she was. To affect people the way she did. Striving for that goodness, for the love that she expressed is the way I know I can honor her memory. I hope with all my heart that we stay in touch, for your family is over-flowing with the love and Grace of Jesus.
Sigma Phi Lambda has come to know that your family will forever be in our prayers and in our thoughts. Although McKenna may be gone, she is still our sister, and she is still loved with the greatness of our Lord. As is true for McKenna, it is also true for you all. We will always welcome you into our lives with love and open arms.
I pray that you all find time to grieve in the way that the Lord intends for you to. That you cling to each other during this time and not drift apart. But, most of all cling to our Lord for he is our rock. We may never understand why McKenna was taken from us so suddenly and so soon, but we have the blessing to know that she is in a place with the Great Lord of All. I pray that you one day can move into a daily life where memories of McKenna bring happiness and not sadness, that you will be able to come full circle, and one day see her again.
I love you all so much, thank you for allowing us to know your daughter. For encouraging her in all she did in her life, and bringing her to Jesus.
Christina Rees