I love this Legacy Retreat® so much! There are several reasons why it is so special.

1) All of the families on this retreat have the same diagnosis. They have metastatic breast cancer. Powerful community is always formed among the families at Legacy Retreats®, and this particular retreat seems to bring about instant connection as these families don’t even have to explain about different illnesses to one another. In fact, many of them have been in private Facebook groups and chat rooms together and now they are finally meeting face to face.

Orlando Legacy Retreat® presented by Kendra Scott, Feb. 2020

2) We get to team up with Kendra Scott and her team to “elevate” the Legacy Retreat® experience. This retreat is bright and full of “bling.” And this year that is even exponentially greater with the addition of our amazing friends at Dillard’s. Coming together to serve these families provides such a meaningful connection. We making a life-changing impact by combining our unique skills and resources. We make a great team!!!

Thank you, Kendra Scott and Dillard’s!

3) Finally, this retreat highlights a personal connection between the families we serve and the ripple effect that a Legacy Retreat® has on many others.

I started serving with Inheritance of Hope because my best friend, Kristen, got cancer way too young and co-founded this non-profit. Some of our volunteers are now serving because my enthusiasm for this great thing is contagious. Kendra Scott sponsors this retreat because her best friend, Holley Kitchen, was served on a Legacy Retreat® and her enthusiasm for this great thing was contagious. Now some of you are now serving because Kendra’s enthusiasm for this great thing is contagious. You see the ripple effect. It’s pretty cool!

Jill with IoH Co-Founder Kristen Milligan

I often think about Holley when I am preparing for this Legacy Retreat® and I know Kendra does as well. The attribute that best describes Holley in my opinion is “bright.” She always glowed with a contagious, bubbly beautiful light. I love how this verse in Matthew describes the light that can be found in us.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) — “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

 
Kendra Scott with Holley Kitchen

It’s like this: when your life has been impacted by the light of Jesus, you can’t help but shine bright. That’s one of the things that is so special about serving on a Legacy Retreat because each volunteer is such a beautiful reflection of the light of Christ and being around them literally brightens my life.

Last October, as I was standing in my local Kendra Scott store on Holley Day, I was appreciating how spectacular the lighting was in the store. Obviously, very smart and talented people on the marketing team know the importance of the perfect lighting in a store like the Kendra Scott store. The lights allow the jewelry to sparkle just right and provide the perfect ambiance and color to make everything shine. I feel like that is what God is doing through us on a Legacy Retreat^®. Obviously we can’t control the lighting in the parks or the hotel but we can be the lights in the hands of the Master. He shines through us to give light to everyone in the house so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

 
“Holley Day” at Kendra Scott stores nationwide

It’s an honor to shine brightly with the Inheritance of Hope team and to glorify God as we brighten the lives of precious families.

Jill originally shared this devotional with the team of the Orlando Legacy Retreat^® presented by Kendra Scott in February 2020.

 
Jill presenting this devo to the retreat team in Orlando

Jill Thompson didn’t give much thought to intentional living until her best friend, Kristen Milligan, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer at age 30. She had a front row seat as Kristen planned and prepared for her death and was inspired to be as intentional with each day. Kristen rarely missed a single moment to speak truth to her children and to teach, inspire, and encourage others. Because of her intentionality, her life and legacy are still greatly impacting others even 7 years after her death. Jill lives in Florida with her husband and four children and tries to make the most of each and every day, living intentionally as a wife and mom and Inheritance of Hope’s Volunteer & Family Legacy Director. Read more posts from Jill >>