“If you have ever met a Brooks, you have become their family.”
Our loving giant died on Wednesday. As I stood in the “mile long” line of family to enter the chapel for the funeral I started thinking about how much Uncle Bill was loved. Listening to testimonies of how he loved out loud all of his life, I was touched at the rich legacy he has left. A legacy that started with my Great- Grandma Brooks.
The Brooks family is a family like I have never seen. They really know how to love each other. They show up for every event, call as much as they can, and stop everything they are doing to spend time with each other when possible. We have family reunions every year and still have crowds of attendees. This family branches out over 4 generations of Brooks’. In a day and time when families rarely see each other, why is this family so different? Love. God’s kind of love.
Recently, I have contemplated so much about the impact of prayer. I have seen time and time again how much things have changed because of prayers people have prayed. I have experienced it first hand on many occasions. Our pastor often says if your mom is praying for you, you might as well give up now because those prayers are going to be answered. I love the power of prayer in that visual. I imagine my mom prayed many, many prayers for me because I know I wouldn’t be where I am if she hadn’t.
As I thought about prayer and the power of intervening on behalf of others, I started wondering about my family. I asked my mom if Grandma Brooks was a praying woman. I was in the 8th grade when she passed away so even though I have fond memories of her I do not remember some details. With a surprised look on her face and tears in her eyes, Mom said, “Was she a praying woman? Flora, I have heard her pray prayers that have given me chills. She would call out every name of every person in the whole family and speak words of life over them. Powerful prayers.” In my mind I am envisioning a Mrs. Clara (from the War Room movie) type prayer. The kind of prayer that is so genuine and so powerful that it makes you feel like Jesus is standing right there beside you! I got chills just listening to Mom tell me about them! Suddenly it all made sense. The special quality of this family that keeps us strong and loving each other is the thousands of prayers Grandma Brooks prayed over each one of us. Prayers that have expanded over 4 generations. Prayers for us to know and in turn show love.
As I listened to the legacy Uncle Bill left I thought to myself of how each and every one of the Brooks’ have an amazing legacy of love they are building. So many of them joyfully serve others and selflessly invest themselves into others’ lives. They truly love out loud.
I want that. I do not want the legacy of love to stop with me.
Uncle Bill, thank you for showing your love to everyone you met. Though you are gone, your legacy will live on forever. You finished well.