One young man exhibited great strength, character and talent during a performance of a Josh Groban hit at a memorial service for his mother.

Losing a loved one is never easy, especially when that person is a parent. Parents play an essential role in the lives of their children. Not only do they give birth to them, but they mold, shape and teach their children. Those memories – the good and the bad – will impact that child’s life forever. One young man showed how much his mother touched his life. 

In a video posted to YouTube, Jonah Manley, a blind 15-year-old, stands confidently at the microphone, speaking about his late mother. Jonah goes through a laundry list of reasons why he loved his mother, Nicole Davidson-Manley. 

Jonah gives one heartfelt and touching reason after another about why he loved and adored his mother. As he shares his reasons with the audience, Jonah does so with great wit, humor and love. He often has the crowd roiling in laughter as he mentions several memories of his and his mother’s time together. 

Near the end of the clip, Jonah’s father steps up to the microphone and mentions that one of Jonah and Nicole’s favorite songs was the Josh Groban classic “You Raise Me Up.” After this announcement, Jonah grabs a seat at the piano.

Jonah’s performance, much like his prior speech, is moving and beautiful. It’s clear that the lyrics hold a special place in his heart. Somehow, he’s strong enough to keep it together throughout the performance. 

The room erupts in a much-deserved round of applause at the conclusion of Jonah’s stirring performance in his mother’s memory.

At the end of the YouTube clip, a soundbite plays in which Nicole, who knew her time was coming to an end, asked for the song to be played at her memorial service.

Proverbs 1:8-9 “My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching: for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.”