The Lord took my new friend-

I was talking to him at 9:00 on Friday night,

he seemed fine.

He was going across the street to have a few beers,

came home,

used the restroom,

and died!

I just met him a couple of weeks ago,

he seemed like a really cool person.

Always smiling, always cracking jokes!

I thought he would make a good friend!

His name was DAVID

He was only 37----

his birthday is next week,

sooooo young!

He leaves behind a wife,

step-daughter of 15,

and a son of 11.

He will be Missed!!!

I hope he has gone to a better place!

ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND

Extend your hand, dear God,

to an approaching disciple.

You will know him (as you do already),

a servant of truth and mankind.

This comrade of mine,

always a candidate for your affection,

entered the reality of death and

separation from us without misgiving,

without illusion, heart full of love,

patiently to await a joyous reunion

with his eternal mate. To you, dear God,

I humbly commend him,

this friend of hope and understanding.

He needs no words of welcome,

a simple embrace will suffice

to reconcile and forgive,

to envelope him within

Christ's great atonement and

create the wholeness made real

only through it and his mortality.

One fine day, on a high hill or its

heavenly equivalent, may I embrace him,

expressing gratitude to thee and

to him for his life's enrichment of mine.

Samuel L. Holmes