Today marks 3 years since we lost Jacob. His sister, and trustee of the JBT, Abbie, has written this message on what is always a difficult day for us all.
It’s difficult to know how to feel, let alone what to say, in the face of such a milestone. Three years feels at once like a lifetime as well as the blink of an eye. While today is a difficult day, it gives us an opportunity to remember Jacob, and remember the light that he brought to all of our lives. It’s easy to get swept up with life being as life always is: busy, so there isn’t always the opportunity to have moments of reflection.
All of us at JBT had the absolute privilege of sharing our lives with Jacob, as well as sharing some amazing experiences to go with that. As one of his sisters, I was able to grow up with Jacob, and my memories are saturated with images of him as the fun, incredible, witty and silly brother that he was.
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I miss Jacob terribly. As my mum said to me, we think about him every single day, but today especially reminds us of the sadness that comes with his loss. Time is a remarkable healer, and while the days have gotten easier, his absence is still ever present.
But while Jacob is sadly no longer with us, his influence still is. Whether that’s in the bad jokes we all tell, the mannerisms that we catch ourselves doing without even realising or in the songs that always seem to remind us of him. He is hidden away in our speech and our actions, it just takes a little bit of extra looking to be able to see. And today especially, we should allow ourselves to be a little more “Jacob”. Play your music a little too loud, enjoy an ice cold beverage and spread a little laughter. That is how we should remember him.
JBT has been an incredible memorial for Jacob, and I have no doubt in my heart that he would be proud of each and every one of us for using his name to do so much good. We have turned a tragic circumstance into something good, and something that will continue to do good well into the future.
We will keep Jacob’s memory alive by keeping creativity in our community alive. He inspired me to do what I love, even if it doesn’t always pay the bills. And that’s the spirit that the JBT fosters. And I for one can’t wait to see where we take this charity.
So while today we remember the tragic loss of our friend and brother, we look ahead to a future where we continue to remember him in our work through the charity as well as in our personal lives.
I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that Jacob will never truly be gone. We will always carry him with us and we will always love and remember him.
We miss you, Jake.
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