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R.I.P.
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace...
There are moments when life doesn’t make sense, things just don’t seem fair at all…but we must accept that God's timing isn't necessarily our timing for life or death issues. The heavenly invitation comes when least expected, and since we know where it comes from, we must accept it as divine providence!
An early morning telephone call shook up our family today, news of a friend Michael Long, killed last night in a freak accident. He had traveled for the summer to assist his father, to spend time working side by side with him on a project, but it wasn't meant to be. While traveling he hit a deer last night, and when he exited his vehicle to observe and inspect the damage, as well as the deer itself, another car zoomed by and hit him dead on, killing him, taking away his last breath. Today another young friend was going to travel to join them for the next three months, and then the telephone call this morning...
Michael was a gentle and patient mentor to one of our sons when he was a teen attempting to choose paths on his road of life. It was Michael who happened across his meandering and wavering walkway, a strong bonding friendship eventually forming. As the friendship grew, so did the hard knocking advice for assisting our son greatly in his youthful ways, offering him much direction, and eventually teaching him the values of faith, family, stewardship, vocation and hard work.
Michael with our son at our anniversary dinner in March.
Michael was such a gentle soul who wore his emotions on his sleeves at times, a man who took it upon himself to get a whole host of folks praying for my hubby when finding out about the illness afflicting him, and a man who only wished to remain in the background and never in the forefront of fanfare. He was kind beyond kind and had such a tough life, working harder than anyone we know to keep on solid ground. How he tried so hard!
All our children and grandchildren loved him; he was that smiling face who would have given anything to help anyone, gave service freely and more often than most people did in a lifetime.
He was honored to be our granddaughter’s godfather.
Our little Rose (and all of us) will miss him.
Recently he attended our thirtieth wedding anniversary evening when we were in
Michael, we will miss you when we return in August! You ran the race well friend, rest in peace…
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
