Time Well Spent

     It did not turn out the way we wanted.  Not even close.  We all tried so hard to make you stay, but it was not meant to be.

     This did not follow the order of things.  Things we look at from a strictly human observation.  You were not supposed to go first.

     There were many prayers, thoughts, intentions, sent your way and to God.  Trying to change a plan.  A plan made a long time ago.

     The Bible tells us that God knew you before he formed you in the womb.  I can almost see you, in the Great Room of Planning. You, there with God, his Spirit and his Son, mapping out your course.  You probably said, "So, what's in it for me?"  The other three laughed, along with you, because they already knew the answer.  Love.  Great, unconditional, non judgmental,  mind blowing love.

     Your time seemed so short, at least in the way we view time.  We wanted you to grow old, have wrinkles, grey hair and lots of stories to tell.  But you lived.  You lived life the way you saw fit. You loved, you laughed, you played hard.  Truly, a man after God's own heart.

     You left behind a family, friends and an entire community who loved you.  You touched far more people than you could probably imagine, but you know that now.  You know that the love you lived was passed along to many.

     You suffered, but not in vain.  Your suffering brought about great healing for a world that so desperately is in need of it.  You faced it with determination and tenacity.  For that, I admire your strength, many of us would have thrown in the towel long ago.

     But not you, child of God, you saw the plan through until the end.  The end, but only here, for now there is a great beginning. You have stepped through the veil.  The veil that separates us from this world and what lies beyond.  You have completed your journey and the scene that has unfolded before you is something we can only barely grasp.  The beauty and the love that greeted you cannot be described with mere human words.  The finest steed that Heaven had to offer probably snorted and stomped his hoof, impatient for you to saddle up.  To saddle up for the greatest ride, the greatest ride ever.

     We will miss you.  We will miss you terribly.  It will never be the same with you gone, but you left us with so much love.  You left us with the knowing that you lived more in those short years than some do in a life time of many decades. 

     For that, we shall be grateful.  We have been blessed by your presence and your time in our world has forever been written on our hearts.  

     Rest in peace may not be the right words.  You are home now, there is much rejoicing going on in Heaven.