Jon's, Larina's, Jonah's and Luke's Thanksgiving has been a fun time ...
Thought you'd like to share a bit of that fun ...
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
I Lost a Friend this Week
This past Week I lost a Friend!
He was 15 years old. Many – if not most – who knew him would say he’d enjoyed a lot of life in such a short time. I agree. I knew him and spent quality time with him through all of those years.
Early in our Friendship it became clear that he was a cut above the ordinary. He was strongwilled but teachable. He was an exceptional Friend and re-defined loyalty. He had a way of making me feel like I was a “big deal!”
We did a lot of things together. Sometimes they were stressful and demanding. No matter. He had inexhaustible energy and tireless capacity to find the fun no matter the rigors.
Because we have a lot of young Children in our lives it was inevitable that he would be exposed to them. I wondered how he would respond to them. Would he be jealous of them? Would he be as rough with them as we were with each other? At times I wondered, “Would he be impatient with them if they took advantage of the ‘teddy bear’ disposition he showed when they came by?” I was so proud of his way with them.
My life is full and I was often unable to hang out with him. Never did I feel his disappointment. When we were able to connect it was as if nothing had changed; like no time had passed since I’d left.
15 years are not a lot of time really. But this guy never let me down. Oh there was once. A hot female was flaunting her stuff and I saw trouble. The circumstances were clearly dangerous. We both recognized that I knew better than he did when drastic action was called for. This was unfamiliar territory. Would he respect my insistence that he ignore her overtures? With only slight hesitation he took my advice, turned his back on her, and agreed to leave that stuff for other times and places.
The last coupla years have been tough for him. His vitality has waned. In terms of pure numbers 15 years are not that many. But for him they were too many. Finally last Week it was apparent that his quality of life had deteriorated to the point where we would be disrespectful of this noble Friend if we employed heroic measures to preserve his life. Hard as it was, with lumpy throats and tearfilled eyes, we let him die.
Will we see him again?
To be truthful, I don’t know.
This I do know. His patient loyalty has a Heavenly quality. Until we’re with Jesus we will never meet anyone more peacefully content. Often as I marveled at his capacity for fun I thought about Christ’s insistence that “joy” is what people who hang out with him experience. My Friend was affectionate in a way that made you feel most important. He was gentle. He redefined “faithful.” And he always walked the line we’d agreed was best for all concerned. My Friend lived a truly “good” life!
If dogs get to Heaven Caleb will be there!
And I will be thrilled to see him and be with him forever!
He was 15 years old. Many – if not most – who knew him would say he’d enjoyed a lot of life in such a short time. I agree. I knew him and spent quality time with him through all of those years.
Early in our Friendship it became clear that he was a cut above the ordinary. He was strongwilled but teachable. He was an exceptional Friend and re-defined loyalty. He had a way of making me feel like I was a “big deal!”
We did a lot of things together. Sometimes they were stressful and demanding. No matter. He had inexhaustible energy and tireless capacity to find the fun no matter the rigors.
Because we have a lot of young Children in our lives it was inevitable that he would be exposed to them. I wondered how he would respond to them. Would he be jealous of them? Would he be as rough with them as we were with each other? At times I wondered, “Would he be impatient with them if they took advantage of the ‘teddy bear’ disposition he showed when they came by?” I was so proud of his way with them.
My life is full and I was often unable to hang out with him. Never did I feel his disappointment. When we were able to connect it was as if nothing had changed; like no time had passed since I’d left.
15 years are not a lot of time really. But this guy never let me down. Oh there was once. A hot female was flaunting her stuff and I saw trouble. The circumstances were clearly dangerous. We both recognized that I knew better than he did when drastic action was called for. This was unfamiliar territory. Would he respect my insistence that he ignore her overtures? With only slight hesitation he took my advice, turned his back on her, and agreed to leave that stuff for other times and places.
The last coupla years have been tough for him. His vitality has waned. In terms of pure numbers 15 years are not that many. But for him they were too many. Finally last Week it was apparent that his quality of life had deteriorated to the point where we would be disrespectful of this noble Friend if we employed heroic measures to preserve his life. Hard as it was, with lumpy throats and tearfilled eyes, we let him die.
Will we see him again?
To be truthful, I don’t know.
This I do know. His patient loyalty has a Heavenly quality. Until we’re with Jesus we will never meet anyone more peacefully content. Often as I marveled at his capacity for fun I thought about Christ’s insistence that “joy” is what people who hang out with him experience. My Friend was affectionate in a way that made you feel most important. He was gentle. He redefined “faithful.” And he always walked the line we’d agreed was best for all concerned. My Friend lived a truly “good” life!
If dogs get to Heaven Caleb will be there!
And I will be thrilled to see him and be with him forever!
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