Psalms 27:9- “a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” |
A friend died last weekend. A neighbor. When we moved in on Labor Day in 1990, the first person we met was Cole, his wife Sandy, and Jack, their 8 years old son. He once told us how he took Sandy (on their first date) to Keller’s Drive-In on Northwest Highway. To celebrate it, our family began an annual pilgrimage to have lunch there together with Jack and Sandy. It is still in operation today. And is a good meal.
We had a fruitless mulberry tree die in our front yard. We cut it down with Jack’s chainsaw and assistance. One Sunday night a few weeks later, we came home from church to see Jack and Sandy planting a silver leafed maple in its place. Another tree died and as I was cutting it down with a hand saw, Jack came with his chain saw to finish it off.
He was a woodworker and made the casket he is being buried in. He and Sandy were crime watch captains for our block. Jack gave me a power miter saw. We helped each other out. I will miss Jack…and our trek to Keller’s. Father in heaven, thank You for bringing Jack into my path, good friends are a blessing! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
– Jeff Beall