Tuesday, I attended the funeral of a man I never met—Jay Ingram.

I will be forever sad about that.

I wanted to know this man through the eyes of his family, friends, students, and soccer players. And, after Tuesday's celebration of his life, I believe I do.

How did I miss meeting Coach Jay all these years? We live in the same town of Kennesaw, he went to church two blocks from my house, his daughter attends the same school as my son, and my son often played soccer games at the NASA fields he coached on for the past 12 years.

How did I miss that infectious smile? How did I miss this giant among mentors to young people? How did I miss this man who loved the game of soccer so much?

On Tuesday I saw soccer players of all ages gather in yellow shirts and their NASA game jerseys to honor a man who taught them to play the “beautiful game” a lot better. When asked how many had been coached by Jay Ingram, about 100 hands went up from the funeral crowd.

“We’re not going to forget that Coach Jay wants her to work on using her left foot,” said one soccer mom in tears, with her young daughter standing beside with reddened eyes.  

Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy cancelled school on Tuesday so students, parents, faculty, and staff could attend the two-hour service, held outdoors at Living Hope Church in Kennesaw. Coach Jay was their PE teacher.

They came out in force to laugh, cry, and reminisce together about the impact of Coach Jay on their school and on their hearts.  “I remember Coach doing that,” laughed one young boy when a story about Jay’s antics was told by a speaker. “That was really funny.”

Wait a minute.

I do have a connection with Jay Ingram. I am his sister in Christ. He is my brother in Christ. He lived his life so others could see Jesus Christ in him. He is in Heaven already and, as one speaker said, “Heaven got a jolt of Jay last Friday.”

So, when I get there, I will look for this amazing man. I will look for that smile.

And I will give him a hug and say, “I’m so glad I finally get to meet you, Coach Jay, because you made a huge impact down there on Earth. Thanks for all you did for others in the name of Jesus. Well done.”