Legacy

 

Two and a half weeks ago one of the neatest men I've ever known went to be with Jesus. After a grueling four month battle with cancer, his life was cut way too short and his time on this planet with his precious family came to an end. 

Keith Borne is my best friends daddy. When anyone mentions someone being Larger Than Life I picture Mr. Keith. Cajun to the core, sweet Mr. Keith's laughter alone lights up a room. When that man talks, folks listen...and not just because he's hilarious. A powerful attorney, Mr. Keith's greatest accomplishments were not in the office. Though many in Lafayette, LA knew him for his successful career...I didn't.

I knew Mr. Keith because of the way he loved his little girl. When I met Claire in college, one of the first things she told me was about her Cajun family. Every other story I heard contained a hilarious antidote her dad had used to soften life's circumstances. When we talked about her ambition to do well in school it was attributed to her incredible father's encouragement. Every time a crass joke came out of Claire's mouth we remembered what Mr. Keith ALWAYS SAID..."the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." His baby girl is so much like him in so many ways!

A few days before he passed away I wrote a letter to Claire and Mr. Keith. I shared with them how much their relationship affected people...namely me. Watching the way one father loved his little girl showed me Jesus. No matter how large/loud/hilarious/successful/hardworking Mr. Keith is...what's spoken louder than anything else about him to me is the way the he has abundantly/gently/sacrificially loved his daughter.

It was epic. The kind of relationship people write stories about. I dream of marrying a man one day who loves my girls the way this one loved his. I'm convinced that much of the reason my best friend trusts and obeys Jesus is because of the provision, support and love her daddy displayed to her every day of their lives together.

A week before his death, God gave Claire the sweet opportunity to talk to her daddy about forever. They wept over the song below. Mr. Keith knew that it was Christ's blood that covered him and gave him heaven. I'll never forget how graciously he went to be with our savior.

Because the sinless savior died, my sinful soul is counted free. That God the just is satisfied to look on him and pardon me.

Thanks for showing me that kind of love, Mr. Keith. Thanks for teaching me about Jesus. I tell you what, I will thank God always that I was so blessed to know you, FRIEND!!!

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Mr. Keith's Obituary

Claire's Blog