As I have watched the media's coverage of Tony Dungy's son's tragic and unexpected death, I can't help but think of my sister Kay and her husband Jeff. They demonstrated the greatest example of grace and forgiveness I will probably ever see three years ago when they asked the court for lenience for the 20 year old girl who was drunk and behind the wheel and ran over and killed their son Scott as he was standing in his driveway. He was a senior at North Carolina State with 1 semester left and his whole life in front of him. I have never been more proud of anyone as I am of my sister and the way in which she has handled Scott's death. I don't tell her often enough because it's a tough subject to bring up. Sometimes it's just easier for me to talk about the weather. But, she is active in MADD, has spoken to students in schools and told the young lady who killed Scott that she forgives her in the hope the young lady could piece her life together. I don't know how Kay, Jeff and James' parents feel. But I am greatly impressed in how they have demonstrated their faith. Paul Attner of Sporting News had this to say about Tony Dungy.
"Tony will be strong because he is a man of great faith. Too often those in athletics flaunt their faith but truly lack conviction. Dungy is not one of those men. His faith is shown through how he treats others, fairly, with dignity, with unending class, how he conducts his life, with great ethics and with great courage of his convictions. He has such a pleasant nature, a serenity that few in his business reflect."
At the funeral for his 18 year old son, Mr. Dungy recalled Thanksgiving, which was the last time he saw James as the teen rushed off to the airport.
“I said, ‘I’ll see you later.’ I didn’t get to hug him. I knew I’d see him again pretty soon, so it didn’t really bother me very much,” Dungy said.
“We talked on the phone a lot the last few days. We’re always talking about what was going to happen. The last few days he was saying — as the guys on the team know he would — he was saying: ’Dad, we’re going to the Super Bowl, and when we do, will I be on the field?”’
Dungy nearly broke down again, then finished his thought amid applause.
“And I said: ‘Yeah, man. You know the hard part is getting there, but if we do, you know you’re going to be on the field.’ ... But I never got to hug him again. That’s one thing I’ll always think about and always remind people to do: Hug ’em every chance you get.”
Thank you Kay & Jeff and Tony Dungy for teaching us what it truly means to live lives of faith. Below are Kay's comments after seeing this first blog entry.
"You flatter us more than we deserve. You know that it has been God who has had us in such a tight hug these past few years to bolter our strength when it falters. Remember, Scott was not ours to lose. God only loaned him to us for awhile. I'm just so grateful for all the I was blessed enough to learn from him and from all the angels such as yourself and Mary and especially Jeff. Thank you all. I am truly blessed that Scott will never know this kind of pain. I love you. Hug Mary for me! I'm so glad she was born!! Kay
