Keith: Thanks for sharing a little of your grief with us. Sometimes the problems can seem to be almost insurmountable when they come one after the other, especially when a dear friend is gone. Death so often focusses our attention on living, however, and we need to ensure that we make each day worthwhile. It sounds like your friend did so by being a help to you. Perhaps now you can be that same kind of friend to his wife and share her grief as she shares yours. I guess it’s true that the things and people who are taken from us are important, but so much more important for our own wellbeing is how we react when those things happen. Helping someone else can be very therapeutic for them and for ourselves and sharing our heart with another, though risky at times, can also be so rewarding. You’ll know that, of course, but I know I sometimes need to be reminded of things I know but often fail to do when life throws a wrench into the works. Do what you can! That’s all that anyone can do, but sometimes we fail to do what we can. Sounds like your friend did that for you. What a great treasury of memories you’ll have of his kindness over 40 years, and more recently especially. Value those and pay them forward to others who need what you can give too.
Greg
