So, this last Saturday Morning my bride, Claire, got a call from her
best friend Sonya who lives just south of Nashville in the tiny town
of Smyrna, TN.
Now, when Claire gets a call from Sonya it's either very great news or
the total opposite. It was the latter. One of our mutual friends from
college days at Trevecca Naz Univ passed away suddenly. Normally,
you expect "passed away suddenly" to happen to someone who's lived
a ripe 75, 80, 90+ years right? Not this time. Stan has three kids: 2
Daughters and 1 son, my Tyler's age, 10. He has a beautiful bride,
Doreen who has made the sacrifice to stay home and raise the
aforementioned three kids. And on the day Stan "passed away suddenly"
his eldest daughter was spending her first full day at College. Stan was
48. F---O---R--T--Y E--I--G--H--T. Like, just 4 years my senior.
Shock.
Sadness.
More Shock.
Sadness.
By all accounts, Stan was the Husband and Father any one of us would
be blessed to have. Loved Jesus. Loved his Wife and his Children. Loved
being involved in the Community and was a Prolific Professor at the University
of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He's in Heaven now. Not here. With his wife and
with his children and with his community and with his students.
"God?" I pray. "I know many other husbands and fathers who you could take
besides Stan. Abusers. Haters. Guys that aren't "in the mix" and doing their own
thing. The Fakes. The Frauds. The Hypocrites."
But that's not how God works. I would work that way if I were God, I think. "The
good die young."
We don't know the why, here on Earth. My thinking is, "how will I respond to such
news." Do I become a better Husband and Father? Will I choose to love well and
serve others more than myself?"
Yes. I think that IS what's important and what matters. To all of us who have lost
friends, loved ones and those important to us way to early: Christ died so that we
may have life. And have life more abundantly. Even if it's cut short for whatever
reason.
Stan? You were a good man. A great husband and great father. And you loved God
with your whole life. May I be such a person. May we all be such a person.
BWD
