Yesterday I attended the funeral of Fred Patterson, age 71. Fred was a security guard and while I was in the Air Force he did some contract work for our unit. I use to go and sit and talk to Fred while he was doing his escort duties, were he always would get me laughing. I enjoyed seeing him just walking up to the site. This is the effect he had on every person he came in contact with.
His boss (also and older gentlemen) or I should say partner worked with me in providing the escorts I needed and he knew I was leaving the Air Force soon to pastor. I hadn’t seen him in about six month or so and at the funeral he didn’t recognize me, I guess it was the beard and the few pounds…
But at the second glance his eyes filled with tears and he buried his head in my chest weeping…I put my arms around him and held like a father holding his son.
“Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
The Bible says we are to carry on another’s burdens and I thank God I was there for just that moment to be someone he could feel comfortable enough to grieve.
Life is a gift and we never know when and or where we are going to be called home. The only guarantee we do have is we will die. I thank God for putting Fred in my life; I hope at the end of my life someone will say the same about me.
God bless and remember to give thanks for this precious gift called life…
-ps
1 comment:
I will, Pastor Steve...say thank God for putting you in my life and in the life of my family...
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