Reflection Day

This is a recap of a blog I wrote a week ago.  I felt that I needed to change it somewhat and write just a little bit more.

I know when I decided to write this blog, that I wanted to be informative, light hearted and humorous.  But with life a little sadness seems to leak in now and then.  I'm sitting here at my desk trying to compose my thoughts while the world is moving forward, cars going by my house are headed to work, and a dear friend has died.

Life can come at you like a knockout punch. It is always changing.  Sometimes for the good, the bad and in this case the sad.  If you are a Christian like me, death is something to look forward to. We get to go to live with God.  What is better than that? 

I think that we all hang onto those we love, not for their benefit but maybe selfishly for ours.  I hate saying good-bye. It seems so permanent.  But it really isn't.  We will get to be with all of our friends and loved ones that have gone before us after we die.

I don't really think much about death.  Like most humans, I love it here on earth and want to hang around for as long as I can.  I'm not ready to die.  There is so much more out there that I want to see, learn about and experience. But who's to say that soon, God maybe ready for me. It isn't our decision to decide when we are going to die.  God has his own agenda. When he calls you, you can't ask him to wait till tomorrow.  You can't tell him that I've got to clean the garage, do the laundry or take in a movie.  You just answer his call and go. 

I guess that I should celebrate the life of my friend. Mr. Roy.  His humor, wisdom, and graciousness are traits that I should strive to copy.    My friend was a man of God.  His faith has been tested a few times, but he always has held strong in his beliefs.  He was a true western cowboy, from his white straw hat, his slow country drawl, down to his scuffed cowboy boots.  I have always enjoyed his warped sense of humor and the gotcha jokes that he loves to catch you with.  I will miss that. 

He was a true gentleman, in a time when manners and consideration seem to have been forgotten.  An avid hunter, he loved to swap stories or guns.  He was a devoted husband, father and friend. Patient and kind, I don't think he ever met a stranger. He was always ready with a handshake and a hearty hello.  I know he sounds like a saint and I am sure that he had some bad points, but right at this moment in time, I'm having a hard time remembering them. 

I sat tonight at the funeral home and listened to some of Roy’s friends and family tell stories about him.  Some of the stories made me laugh, some made me cry, but all of them made me remember.  They made me remember that even though Roy isn’t here in body, his spirit, his “joy of life,” will live on in all of us forever.   God broke the mold when he made my friend Mr. Roy.