***EDIT: This post was originally titled, "To the Fallen." Upon reflection I realized my friends, while having died, have not fallen. They have risen to new life in Christ, a life in which they know understand and see fully, the veil of this mortal life having been stripped away.***
You never forget your first friend to die.
They might have been taken in an accident. They might have been overcome by suicide. But they leave an indelible mark on your soul.
Within the last 4 years, I have had four different friends die. Two died with months of each other. It made me think Death was hounding me, like Final Destination, or something. That feeling has since dissipated, but it hurt to watch my friends' loved ones suffer through the pain of their loss.
Now, with time having past and giving me separation from Death's biting sting, I can look back on their lives with smiles, and not so much pain. I've thought of what I would say to two of those friends who died, and this is it.
To my dear friend Abby,
Oh, Abby. I know I was likely one of the least of your friends. But you were my first friend to die. The first light I saw go out. I have never forgotten you. Your smiling eyes. Your beautiful voice. Your love for God that seeped through every pore as I watched you worship on stage during church each Sunday. I guess these details are etched in my mind like the afterimage of a brilliant flash is burned into retinas.
I remember how much you were passionate for God. And I remember you caring about me. You were one of the first people to welcome me and my family to church seven years ago. And I still remember that one song you played for Easter, almost six or seven years ago. You know, I think it's one of the only songs that has stuck with me throughout my life. I still play it often, whenever I feel sad, or want to remember God loves me.
Thank you Abby, for burning so brightly. Thanks for loving your Savior so well. I still look up to you as an example of what it means to desire God and His will with all your heart. I will never forget you.
Enjoy a dance with Jesus for me, please.
And to Josh Larkin,
Josh, I wish I had known you better. You too have a legacy. You cared so deeply about people. You loved others as much as yourself and God. I know. I know because after you died, the whole campus grieved. People still think, still talk, still miss you, a year after you've passed away. And, quite frankly, no one cared about my blog as much as they did when I wrote my small tribute to you. :)
I wish I could do you better justice. I wish we had been better friends. I wish your life hadn't ended so tragically. But your death is not your legacy. Your life is. You burned brightly! People looked (and still currently look) up to you. And as deeply as you loved, we still love you Josh. We still miss you. We still remember you and your life. You will never be forgotten by us.
You never forget your first friend to die.
They might have been taken in an accident. They might have been overcome by suicide. But they leave an indelible mark on your soul.
Within the last 4 years, I have had four different friends die. Two died with months of each other. It made me think Death was hounding me, like Final Destination, or something. That feeling has since dissipated, but it hurt to watch my friends' loved ones suffer through the pain of their loss.
Now, with time having past and giving me separation from Death's biting sting, I can look back on their lives with smiles, and not so much pain. I've thought of what I would say to two of those friends who died, and this is it.
To my dear friend Abby,
Oh, Abby. I know I was likely one of the least of your friends. But you were my first friend to die. The first light I saw go out. I have never forgotten you. Your smiling eyes. Your beautiful voice. Your love for God that seeped through every pore as I watched you worship on stage during church each Sunday. I guess these details are etched in my mind like the afterimage of a brilliant flash is burned into retinas.I remember how much you were passionate for God. And I remember you caring about me. You were one of the first people to welcome me and my family to church seven years ago. And I still remember that one song you played for Easter, almost six or seven years ago. You know, I think it's one of the only songs that has stuck with me throughout my life. I still play it often, whenever I feel sad, or want to remember God loves me.
Thank you Abby, for burning so brightly. Thanks for loving your Savior so well. I still look up to you as an example of what it means to desire God and His will with all your heart. I will never forget you.
Enjoy a dance with Jesus for me, please.
And to Josh Larkin,
Josh, I wish I had known you better. You too have a legacy. You cared so deeply about people. You loved others as much as yourself and God. I know. I know because after you died, the whole campus grieved. People still think, still talk, still miss you, a year after you've passed away. And, quite frankly, no one cared about my blog as much as they did when I wrote my small tribute to you. :)I wish I could do you better justice. I wish we had been better friends. I wish your life hadn't ended so tragically. But your death is not your legacy. Your life is. You burned brightly! People looked (and still currently look) up to you. And as deeply as you loved, we still love you Josh. We still miss you. We still remember you and your life. You will never be forgotten by us.
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