Standing in a darkened arena before 19,000 people, Vanessa Bryant took center stage Monday at a place her late husband, Kobe, mastered for 20 seasons as a superstar guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.
While he scored with his deft ball-handling, she scored the admiration of those quietly gathered in the Staples Center—and millions more watching worldwide through live streaming—as she courageously dodged her own grief in tribute to Kobe, 41, and their daughter, 13-year-old Gianna, who were killed along with seven others in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash. The entourage was heading to a youth basketball tournament in Calabasas, Calif., when the helicopter slammed into a hillside. Heavy fog draped the region at the time of the crash.
“They were funny, happy, silly and they loved life,” the grieving wife and mother said. “They were so full of joy and adventure. God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other. He had to bring them home to heaven together.”
During her tribute—the first in a two-hour ceremony that featured world-class athletes, entertainers and music by Beyoncé—Bryant shared private family details from a very public figure, who in the days since his 2016 retirement, took to coaching Gianna, who went by Gigi, and mentoring other young athletes. He also was involved in numerous business ventures including films and…
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.