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Events within the entertainment industry hit my family pretty hard during the past couple months. Untimely deaths often give reason for reflection, especially when they involve those whom we’ve had a close relationship with.
Most everyone knows my family associated with the Jacksons throughout the years, as well as entertainer Danny Gans, who co-produced the Donny and Marie show in Las Vegas. However, when a celebrity is lambasted by the limelight of media attention, sometimes the simple things they do go unnoticed.
Interestingly, when our time is up, it’s the kind and simple things we are remembered by.
During Danny Gans’ memorial service, personal stories were shared of how he always looked for ways to give back to a community that gave him so much.
One such story described his daily trip to the theater. He would travel the same route every day, and would regularly visit with a man who had been left homeless.
Often, Danny would take a couple minutes to stop and chat. During these visits, it became apparent to him that this man had difficulties walking. Danny decided to purchase a wheelchair the following day, and give it to him.
No one ever heard that story until Danny’s memorial service. Why? Because those stories don’t sell magazines and newspapers. Those stories are not what the media thinks the public wants to hear.
When Michael Jackson died, the media kicked into a whirlwind frenzy. They unleashed the stories of yesteryear and tapped every aspect of his life.
Now I’m not here to vindicate or condemn a celebrity for the way the media portrayed them. And, thankfully, I’m not the judge of salvation — I leave that job for God.
However, I don’t think any of us realize the private lives of a celebrity until we hear a young girl say, as Paris Jackson said of her father, “Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine, and I just want to say I love him so much.”
Michael’s sister Janet Jackson summed it up best when she said, “To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts.”
These comments struck me, and got me thinking.
Life is not about celebrity, or being adorned with countless accolades; it’s about the legacy we leave behind. May we all consider the lives we touch well before our time is called.
