On Saturday the 13th I was not on Face Book until late evening. Well, in truth, I was shutting off my phone for the day and decided to check Face Book. I wish I hadn’t.
Look, I know if I hadn’t seen the new message, it would not have changed the news it brought, but, there is something in the human psyche which says otherwise. We know it doesn’t work that way, but, still…
The news was our dear friend was not going home. Modern medicine has done all it can for my friend. All that can be done now is to make him and his family as comfortable as possible until The Lord comes to take him Home.
It brings back hard memories. A pain I wish my friend and his family didn’t have to endure. But, I know also that these last days are filled with love and knowing he is loved and knowing his love fills those he leaves for now, is a comfort beyond price.
The news hit me harder than I expected. Then I realized with the exception of just 4 people, I am now part of the oldest living generation of our family and I’ll bet all my childhood friends are too. This is the hardest part of getting old.
The upside is our friends of our youth, the people we grew up with are people that understand us and love us anyway. Our childhood friends know us better than even our own kids, not because our kids don’t care, but, because they weren’t there with us sweating the same math test, or worrying about the upcoming dance, and who was going to make it on the team.
Our friends saw us at our worst and at our best and everything in-between. We shared secrets and told secrets, we forgave and were forgiven, we were bullies one minute and best friends the next.
Bruce, my old and longtime friend, you are loved now and forever. We will meet again and such joy there will be then for all of us. Never again will friends part.
To all my friends, know you are in my thoughts and prayers every day, and I will make more of an effort to let you all know. I will not wait, tomorrow is but a wish we may not be granted.