I graduated from a private school with a really small class. We have already lost 2 classmates over the past four years. In high school and a few years after, we experienced several other hard and traumatic losses. For me, it started in elementary school, when my brother passed away. 17 years ago now which seems impossible.
It never seems to stop. At the beginning of this week, I found out a former classmate of mine passed away after a 5 year battle with cancer. He was 29-years-old. I wasn't close with him and had only seen him a few times since high school, but I feel so much grief for his family and friends. Friends of David, I have watched you from a distance over the past several years and I truly admire you. You have stood beside your friend at the peek of his physical health, winning football games with him and playing in the State playoffs. Cancer can make people uncomfortable. It is so difficult to watch someone you love so much lose their health, strength, and mobility. But you didn't stop standing next to your friend when his health was failing him. I have attended weddings where you helped him navigate a crowded reception venue with a cane or wheelchair, made his plate of food, and cut it up. You have visited him in the hospital, spent time with him and his family in their home, taken him for car rides, vacationed with him, and so much more. Recently, I saw pictures of you at his house, on the morning of your wedding, making sure he felt included. You wanted him to be there. That type of love is beyond words. It's love that is deeply true and has eternal value. You continued to weave your lives together and I can't imagine how difficult it would be in some of the best years of your life, to watch your friend struggle through his hardest years. I'm sorry you had to wonder if your best friend would be able to stand in your wedding or meet your babies. I'm sorry there will be future weddings and future babies he won't be here for or meet here on Earth. And it's not just the big things, I'm sorry for all the small things, all the little moments, you will miss him too. Both David and you did incredibly hard things as he fought cancer and there are some things cancer doesn't get to take from you. Cancer can't take your courage or your spirit. Continue loving hard and living for all the moments that fill you with hope, peace, and joy. Because you have fought cancer with someone, met them in their last moments, you have experienced a tenderness on Earth most won't experience until eternity. Let your "up close" experience with death lead to such a full and beautiful life. Cancer can't take away true friendship. It can't lessen your love. You probably have a million memories with David, cherish them. Tell them. Tell his stories. Share about his courage and faith. Don't stop spending time with his family. He has a niece who will know her uncle because you will keep his spirit and legacy alive when you tell your stories. Most importantly, cancer can't take your faith. David did not lose his battle to cancer. There is no losing when it means you are united with your Heavenly father, with a restored body, for the rest of eternity. Friends of David, keep the faith, as hard as you wrestle with it, cling to it. God will sustain you even when you feel like you can't take one more second of missing someone you love so much.
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Hi! I'm Haley. Archives
May 2019
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