Mandy Kelly – A Tribute

The Blogging world is in many ways its own community, and as in any community and you have people who influence you and who you admire. In my little corner of the web Mandy Kelly was a face I recognized quite often in my feed. She was in my sphere, we may have even spoken once or twice. I’m not sure that she would have known who I was, but I certainly knew her.

She was one of those bloggers I would probably have listed as “future goals.” Mandy was kind of influencer I wanted to be, with the kind of projects I wanted to have.

Last week Mandy Kelly went to Jesus. She, her husband, and two of her four children were caught in a house fire. Her loss has rocked my corner of the web to its foundations. Many bloggers have wanted to do something to mark her passing in some way.

So today, in her memory, I’m supposed to tell you about something she taught me.

Now I’ve read quite a bit from Mandy Kelly, but honestly what really always struck me is her live videos. In those videos I would get a glimpse of her as a person, and she was definitely someone I would have liked to have as a friend.

You see, Mandy Kelly was sweet.

Warm, sweet, kind.

Today, it’s her sweetness I want to talk about, her sweetness I want to remember. So often we can overlook sweetness.

This world tells us sweet is vulnerable, that it isn’t strong, that it can’t lead.

But Mandy Kelly led a strong life, and it was her very vulnerability that made her  a leader.

She taught me that it is ok to be sweet. That you can be sweet and be strong, that you can be sweet and be a leader. Not underestimate your ability based on the way you are looked at by others, but to just follow God’s lead, and He will open doors for you.

I often underestimate myself. I’ve always been looked at as a “goody two shoes” as the “sweet one.” Somewhere along the way I identified myself as somehow “less” because of it. That isn’t true.

I want to live beyond those boundaries I’ve placed on myself. I want to recognize that, like Mandy Kelly, I can be a leader in my world just as I am and how God made me.

Mandy finished so very very WELL in her life, just by living the life God placed before her. The words she left behind will continue to teach and inspire us. Her legacy continues to unfold. She left us suddenly and without warning. She certainly wasn’t anticipating a transition to heaven, but she was ready for it. I hope to live like that, in a way that even if I wake tomorrow in heaven I can know that I finished well.

Mandy Kelly’s life was an offering to God, I only hope that my life can be similarly poured out before Christ.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:6-7

I do ask for prayer for those close to her today, and especially I ask we all keep her remaining children in our thoughts and prayers.