Missing A Friend

It has been a few months since I heard the bad news that a friend of ours passed away. When I moved to Chattanooga I met him and his lovely wife through church. I soon learned he was a wise man when it came to explaining things in the Bible. It wasn't much longer before I also learned he lived out what he had learned through the Bible.

When I began to date Jennifer, he and his wife became some of our major supporters. I then learned my friend was wise with advice and willing to share. I tried to heed his advice because when he dispensed advice it never came across heavy-handed or haughty. It always seemed genuine and straight from his heart.

We trusted this friend. When it came time to plan our wedding we knew he needed to play a part. We asked him if he would offer a prayer during a ceremony. He was thrilled. He came through with a simple but powerful petition. Later, after a few years of marriage, we turned to this friend for help in another matter. He sold us life insurance. We both wanted to make sure the other was taken care of in case something bad happened to the other. This friend found the right policy helping us out in a time of a major decision.

When Hannah was born, more advice was dispensed to me from this man, a father, and by this time in his life, a grandfather. I never knew his children but I know others who do. These others stamped a seal of approval on the job our friend and his wife did with raising their children. That was enough for me to listen when he shared advice on raising children.

One evening, our friend told us he and his wife were moving. Both had retired. Their children lived in other cities. They wished to be nearer their family. We understood this, yet, we both realized a deep sadness that our friends would soon be living elsewhere.

And, away, they went. We saw them a few times over the years. We were always welcomed with warm, sturdy hugs and smiling faces. We were always questioned with a deep concern how we were really handling life, marriage and parenting.

When I write this our friend has been gone for several months. I thought about him today. I remembered one time we had seen them at Logan's Roadhouse. Our friend had some health issues and needed to watch what he ate. He had told me that would likely visit me one day, too. On this day at the restaurant, he asked me what I had ordered. I don't recall what I ordered that day other than it wasn't beef or steak. He looked at me, gave me a grin and told me I should always eat a steak or hamburger at a place that specializes in such, even when faced with possible dietary restrictions. I feel safe to say he told this to me outside of earshot of my wife and his wife. We joked about that for years. I even tell some people I feel as if I betray my friend if I go into a steakhouse and not order beef in some form or fashion.

So, today, we had lunch at Logan's Roadhouse. I thought about my friend a lot while there especially when I tried to determine what to order. I sure do miss him. I wish he were here now so I could tell him, "Fred, I had a burger for you today."