We Don't Live Forever

Five years ago today, my best friend took his last breath. 

This post is in honor of Papa Dan.

All of us think that we are invincible.  That we will live forever.  Or possibly that our close ones will live forever.

For the longest time, I thought that my best friend would live forever.  To me he was 72 going on forever.  He would never pass away.  He would be here for my high school graduation, my wedding, and golly - in my mind he was going to meet everyone of my children.

However, God has a different plan than we do.  When He says our time is up, it's up.  I learned this five years ago, after my best friend passed away.

For a long time my grandpa had Kennedy's Disease, a neuro-muscular disease. He had trouble swallowing his food and when he would swallow his food he would choke. In October of 2008 we went to Iowa to visit family and friends. While we were there my grandpa looked fine, but he would choke on his food and he was very weak. When he would breath we could here a gurgling sound in his throat. Around Christmas time the doctors told him he had aspirating pneumonia.

February 18, 2009 my mom, sister, and I went back up North to help my grandma and grandpa, since my grandpa was being admitted into the hospital for the pneumonia in his lungs. My dad, against his free will, stayed behind to work. While visiting we made many trips to and from the hospital. He was on the ventilator for thirteen days when my grandpa finally made a decision. He wrote several notes to the nurses, but his last said something like this:

"I wish to resign. I enjoyed the opportunity. I have made lots of friends, my wife will agree with me. I refuse to continue intubations. I have been invited to a bigger organization."

Papa Dan, you are missed very much, but your spirit lives on in our hearts and always will be! I love you and can't wait to see you in Glory :)