Sunday, February 22, 2009

Get to know a real Legacy Mom...Tricia York




This installment of "Get to Know" is a little different from those in the past. There is someone on our team that I want you to know because she encompasses everything that we are called to be as Christian wives and mothers. If you have ever sat at Tricia York's table at Legacy Moms, then you know her for her infectious laugh, her amazing wit and sense of humor, and a beauty and joy that shines from the inside-out. Well, as you may have heard, Tricia is facing the biggest trial of her life right now. Her beloved husband, Jimmy, went home to be with the Lord just a few short weeks ago. Jimmy was the Married Life Pastor at Fellowship Church, and was a loved and respected husband, father, friend, pastor and mentor. In these past few weeks, I have seen a strength of character in Tricia that I have never witnessed before in anyone....ever. I told Sam the other day that I want to be just like Tricia York when I grow up, because as a 31-year-old widow with two small children, she has her priorities straight and has taught me what it means to trust in the Lord, not just when it is easy, but when nothing makes sense. As a leadership team at Legacy Moms, we are pulling together to love on her and to try to collect funds to ease some financial burden from her. Many of you have asked how you can help. A fund has been set up to help Tricia and her boys, and if you feel led, I would encourage you to donate to that fund. Here is the info:

Jimmy York Memorial Fund
People’s Bank
Colleyville Branch:
5712 Colleyville Blvd.
Colleyville TX, 76034
817-605-3250

Grapevine Branch:
601 W. Northwest Hwy.
Grapevine, TX 76051
817-251-2820

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you a blog post that Tricia wrote just a few short days after Jimmy's passing. This is the kind of person she is: in the midst of grief and suffering, she is wanting to make sure that everyone she comes in contact with knows Jesus as their savior. If that isn't a true Legacy Mom, then I don't know what one is. Here is her post:

Jimmy Michael York 1975- 2009
Words cannot begin to express my gratitude for all of your prayers and support for me and my family during this devastating time. Your outpouring of love and support has absolutely overwhelmed me. Please know that we feel all of your prayers and God has been (and ALWAYS will be!) faithful to answer them. His love is sustaining all of us as we try to cope with the loss of one of the greatest men this world has ever known. I have never been more proud of my husband than I am today. Each one of you have shared your stories about how Jimmy has touched your life and it makes my heart smile to know that all of you got to truly see the amazing man that he was. His legacy will continue on through your memories and stories. His ministry will continue, even though he is no longer physically here to carry it out. Jimmy's passion each and every day was to help heal broken marriages and to teach young married people how to create an amazing one. He not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. He was the best husband a woman could ever ask for and he lived out what he taught on stage. If there is anything that he would want any of you to take from his passing, it would be to put God first in your life. When you do that, everything else just falls into place. Jimmy had such a passion for men being true men of God. He challenged husbands each and every day to live up to the role that God called them to. He believed in his heart that we could change the world if we could change men and how they lead their families. My prayer is that if you don't know Christ personally, that you would come to know Him. I have now witnessed how quickly life can be taken from you. We are not promised tomorrow. We are not promised five minutes from now. The time to turn your life to Christ is right now. Jesus Christ is the ONLY thing that will give you joy, peace, love, passion and purpose. I wouldn't want a single person that knew Jimmy to not know that truth. He lived his life to point others to Christ and I want his ministry to continue. I have peace because I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jimmy is walking with the Lord at this very moment. I hurt for me and my family because he will be so DEARLY missed, but I don't hurt for Jimmy because I know who he belongs to and where he is. I pray that no one that encountered him or our family walks away from us not knowing that truth. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. They are appreciated more than you will ever know. May God bless all of you and your marriages.



Tricia, we love you. I am quite sure that I can picture Jimmy's winning smile right now and the light he always had in his eyes when he spoke about you. I know he would be so proud of how you are doing. Your boys have an incredible Mom...and the legacy of a dad that just "got it." Thanks for sharing yourself with us, we are blessed by you.


God Bless!

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