Last weekend I buried a family friend. He and his family lived right across the street. He was a a great guy.A very gentle person. Architect. Two years ago his mother died. He was getting ready for her funeral when he came down the stairs his legs gave out and he fell down the stairs. At the hospital they mended his broken ribs and patched his head and ran some blood tests. ALS! Over the next two years he gradually lost the use of his legs , his arms his spine. He was finally reduced to a mechanical bed that moved in different configurations to help him endure this horror show.
The parish church rallied as he lost his job. They remodeled his home to allow the bath and front entrance ect to help take care of John. THey paid the morgage. Bought groceries. Visited the house weekly on rotating schedules to assist the family.
John passed three weeks ago. Before he died he did an interview with the Senior Pastor that was videoed. He was tethered to a breathing machine and his voice was weak but all he talked about was how lucky he is!
THe church was packed........

Take some time today and think about all that you have. Not the bank account, not the things, but your families and friends. I am not trying to get "preachy" here. I just think we fail to really embrace the important stuff.

I will miss my friend. In the end, he was a hero in the way he never complained and showed the way to live in the face of death.
Peace and Happy Thanksgiving!!!