5 Years

My first blog...naturally, there are lots of things to say. But I'll save all of that for another day because today is a special day. Five years ago today my friend Steve left us. I am so thankful that God prompted me to get in the car that morning, five years ago yesterday. Deciding that Steve needed me, I got in the car and drove eight hours to him. The few minutes I had with him are some of the most treasured moments of my life. But God was merciful and took him before he had to suffer any more than he already had.

It's not an earthshattering observation to note that Steven touched every life he came into contact. To say that is a little bit like pointing out that the sun shines. Steven was truly a man for God. How many times did his encouragement and quiet steadiness help me through? In many ways, he was my polar opposite. He was strong, he was steady, he was absolutely sure of what he was doing and where he was going. He was unfailingly logical. His friendship was a grounding force in my life. He was one of the few who could talk me down from the emotional ledges, he could calm the storm and help me to realize that none of it really mattered as much as I thought it did. And he taught me that I deserved better than what I was accepting. But we were kindred spirits as well. He knew me so well that often, he knew what I was thinking before I figured out a way to say them. We could go for months without speaking, and then pick up exactly where we had left off without a moment's hesitation.

Steven was a good person. A great person. He had a beautiful and successful life before him. Instead, God decided that he was going to cram Steve's whole existence into 23 years. And Steve did a pretty good job of stuffing a lot of good times, laughs and wisdom into those years. Steve remains in my thoughts frequently. His thoughts and wisdom remain with me still and his memory, as did knowing him, makes me a stronger person.