Six weeks. Maybe six weeks sounds like a long time to you. Or maybe it feels short. For Tim Brand, a 2002 Central College alumnus, walking with his ailing father, Denny Brand, a 1965 Central graduate, for the last six weeks of his life, inspired him to take the time to tell the story only he could share.
“Standing on the Shoulders: A Legacy Story of a Father, a Son, and Life’s Greatest Gifts,” written by Tim Brand, chronicles the last six weeks of his father’s time on earth and how those final days together made a lasting impact.
Having been diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2018, Denny Brand, along with his family knew the difficult road ahead. However, even knowing what was to come, Tim felt blessing after blessing being poured out.
“This story shines light on the fact that this doesn’t have to be all about seeing this as one of the worst days of my life,” Tim says. “There’s hope. There’s redemption. And there’s beauty, even in the face of death.”
Guiding its reader through this inspiring true story of love, hope and redemption, Tim shares his father’s journey. Life’s greatest gifts are revealed, exploring the deeper questions of what it means to live a good life and how to leave a legacy for future generations.
One of the chapters shares the story of the Gift of Generosity and how Tim’s parents gave away $1 million upon his death to various people and organizations they cared about. Central College was one of them.
“There is a proverb that states, ‘We see further because we are standing on the shoulders of giants,’” Tim says. “Each of us has a question to answer: Will we choose to live a life for others to stand on our shoulders or leave behind the rubble of brokenness for others to clean up? This truly is the central thesis of the book.”
“Standing on the Shoulders” is set to be released in January 2024 and will be available on Amazon, as well as through other distributors across the United States.
Tim is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Many Hands, which touches 25,000 lives yearly across three countries. Transitioning from a decade in the for-profit sector, he established Many Hands in 2008. Tim authors the 3 … 2 … 1 Impact newsletter, leads international Impact Trips and is a regular speaker at churches and community events. Residing in Pella, Iowa, with his family, Tim’s mission is to help others realize their God-given dreams and bring people together to effect community change. To learn more, visit manyhandsimpact.com/standing.
