The Broe family — Kevin and Janel with children (L-R) Carson, Pierce, Forrest and Julianne — earlier this year at the Pierce Your Heart benefit in River Place on Valentine’s Day.

At Pierce Broe’s service, his father, Kevin, shared their family’s hope for Pierce’s legacy.

I tell my children that I know the secret of life. In fact, it’s an advantage that I can give them over other children. My children know the secret of life. In the spirit of community that we have in God’s presence, I’m going to share it with everyone here today.

The secret of life is that happiness is a choice. It’s as simple as that. No person, thing or event can make you feel a certain way without your conscious decision to do so. Now it turns out, there are a few exceptions to this rule, and a loved one dying —​ especially a son, or a brother, or a friend —​ is certainly an exception.

So in this time of incredible sadness and loss, it’s natural to struggle with the question, “Why did God let this happen to a child so young and innocent? Why?” There is no answer to this question.

The truth is we simply don’t know. So today, I’m going to ask you to accept the call to action.

You came here to honor Pierce, to grieve for him, to support us and one another. But you will be leaving today with a mission.

One way to provide meaning to this tragedy is for each and every one of us to commit to finding a larger purpose in life using Pierce as an inspiration. The entire community has come together to lift up Pierce and our family in so many ways that I feel like this new mission has already started.

I’m asking you to look at the way Pierce lived his life and to draw inspiration from it.

I’m asking for big things. Start a nonprofit or foundation. Create an event to raise money for a cause you believe in. Look for other ways to change the world.

I’m asking for small things. Take food to Loaves and Fishes. Go to church. Or change your family’s diet.*

Perhaps one of the children here will be inspired to become a cancer researcher and help find a cure for cancer. Perhaps some of them will be inspired to become doctors and help heal someone. Perhaps some of them will be inspired to become a child life specialist, who work everyday with wonderful sick children.

I can think of no greater honor for Pierce than if, in the coming months and years, each of you come to Janel and me and tell us how Pierce inspired you and how he changed the world.

This won’t ease our pain and make us miss him any less, but it may provide a small portion of the answer, “Why.”

* During Pierce’s treatment the family studied the effects of sugar on cancer and as a result adopted a high fat, low carbohydrate diet, almost entirely eliminating sugar.