Let me introduce you to one of the coolest families ever- Mandy, Zac, Luke, Jake and Lizzy Smith.
I met the Smith family eight years ago…right before their world came crashing down with a terrifying diagnosis nobody saw coming. Zac, a loving husband and father of three had advanced stage colon cancer. May, 2010 after an incredibly courageous battle, he graduated to heaven. My prayer is that their story of love, loss, grief, healing, laughter and the road back to joy-filled life will encourage you. The Smiths continue to inspire me like crazy.
Getting through the first Thanksgiving without Zac was impossible for his family to imagine. That’s why Mandy and the kids decided to seek out someone else who had experienced extreme adversity, and figure a way to help. Mandy along with Lizzy Jake and Luke shopped, cut, baked, carved and created a magnificent Thanksgiving feast- not for themselves, but for another family who had been through an unthinkable medical crisis.
And that’s how the Smith family’s journey of reaching out and giving back- even through grief- began. The journey that has ultimately brought them to a place of hope and healing.
Over the years their tradition has evolved into an annual “Friendsgiving” feast, where anyone without a place to go for Thanksgiving is welcome. Zac’s legacy statement on the wall serves as an encouraging reminder to all who visit, that “God is still God & God is still good. To God be the Glory.”
Christmas 2010, the Smiths wanted to find a way to say thanks to the medical staff at the Cancer Clinic who had showered Zac and their family with great care and kindness. The Smith’s annual Doughnut Day tradition continues even today. It’s so cool to see how the Smith kids have grown into amazing teenagers with gigantic hearts.
Extravagant generosity has been a secret weapon for Mandy and her phenomenal family, not only to soften the heartbreak of grief, but also to turn the mess into a mighty message of comfort and hope.
Mandy, Lizzy, Jake and Luke- your hearts and story are pure gold.
Thanks for showing the rest of us how it’s done!