Passing

In the past month alone, our family has had five old friends pass to their eternal reward.   One was a school friend of mine and my brothers, too young to go at age 57.  The other four had lived full lives, but their passing is sad nonetheless.  My parents have been to four funerals in Pine City this year, and on Saturday they will attend yet another one.  They had just seen him at the funeral of a mutual dear friend two weeks ago.  I am saddened at the thought of these good friends no longer living. 

I am especially saddened at the death of my best friend Glor's mother, Flora - I spent so many hours at Glor's house, and her mom was ever cheerful, kind and interested in what we were up to!!  When Matthew was born she made a huge, beautiful fabric picture of "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" - in a red wooden frame, made by Glor's dad.  Through all the years it has always had a place on the wall, first in Matthew's bedroom, then in Taylor's and now it hangs in "the girl's bedroom" here.  I hope some day in the distant future it will hang in a great-granchild's bedroom. 

All of these good people lived lives to be proud of, and leave scores of loved ones behind.  It is a sombering reminder, and in the words of Fanny Crosby, the great hymn writer who lived to be 95 years of age:

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.