Let’s talk about our beautiful logo that so many of you are now proudly sporting around with your JBR apparel and merchandise! My brother, Chad, designed it with a goose simply because Jamie loved geese and he loved hunting. I loved the logo at first sight. When I look at it, I see Jamie. It is SO him. Chad really nailed it when he designed it.
But I want to tell you another story… something that I think about often but have never shared with you. Clear back in February when I was still waiting on the IRS to grant us our 501(c)(3) status I was working a deal with a company called Thumbies. Thumbies is a company that takes the thumbprint of your loved one and turns it into a beautiful keepsake. I knew almost from conception that I wanted to include the Thumbies product in one of our Outreach Programs though I wasn’t sure to what capacity they would be willing to participate. Much to my surprise, Thumbies not only chose to participate but to partner directly with The JBR Foundation!!
Thumbies has endorsed The JBR Foundation with funeral homes in and around Southeast Iowa and West Central Illinois. When a participating funeral home takes in a family as a result of suicide loss they will put the family in touch with our foundation. If the descendant has left behind a child or sibling under the age of 18, The JBR Foundation will provide the child(ren) with a Thumbie of their loved one. To some that may not sound like much, but I can tell you from experience that it is a precious gift and it brings a lot of comfort and promotes healing to have that little piece of your loved one to carry with you throughout your grief journey. My Thumbie is pictured around my neck in the photo below. That pendant is Jamie’s thumbprint.
So, what does all this have to do with our logo???? When I was working the deal with Thumbies and trying to land that partnership I communicated back and forth many times with a Graphic Designer/Marketing Specialist named Michael. In one of our many emails back and forth Michael wrote me this: “On a personal note, let me say how sorry I am for the loss you and your family are experiencing. I am also pleased to note the use of a goose as part of the Foundation identity. Geese are remarkable creatures on a level most people don’t know about. They exhibit strong flock traits by always staying together. When traveling great distances, they never fly faster than the slowest member can go, and they routinely trade the lead position (the one that requires the greatest effort) during flight so that as one leader needs rest another steps up to take over. All traits that serve families in crisis exceedingly well. That seems like a very nice analogy for your foundation”.
I mean, cue the tears now!!! Am I right or am I right? I am positive that Michael hasn’t thought even one single time about that email since the day he sent it, but I sure have. I go back and I read it often. He saw our logo for so much more than even we initially did, and his analogy is SPOT ON. It is exactly how we have survived the last 16 months and 18 days.
If you are experiencing a time of tragedy and a time of great grief in your life too, I hope that you will find comfort in those around you and let others lead you when you can’t seem to find your own strength.
I thank God every single day for “our flock”.
You are loved. You are worthy. Your life here matters. You are someone’s Jamie.
XOXO - Jennifer
P.S. Go check out Thumbies at www.thumbies.com! We are proud to be partnered with them!!
Pictured - Thumbies Classic Pendant in Sterling Silver