Last Saturday Morning

Last Saturday morning I saw a butterfly in my yard.

Last Saturday morning my son finished the last of his packing and prepared to leave for Pennsylvania by noon.

Last Saturday morning my best friend Laura called in tears. Her 31 year old son, David, had a seizure earlier that morning. His heart stopped. The paramedics could not resuscitate him. He passed away.

Dave was survived by his mother and stepfather, his wife Jasmine and their three young children, two younger brothers and one younger sister, his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and too many friends to count.

My son and Dave grew up together. My husband not only watched Dave grow up but considered him a close friend.

It has been a week of tears, shock, disbelief, and grieving for all who knew Dave.

As I’ve spent time with the family this week, I’ve also watched the healing begin.

Laura expressed that somehow a calm has come over her, strengthened her faith, and in her heart she knows that Dave is safe with the Lord.

Dave has already come to one of his younger brothers in a dream, saying, “Hey, I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Be happy”.

Dave has been laid to rest in the same cemetery and about 100 yards from his best friend Joel, who died in a car accident 10 years ago. Since Joel was like a son to Laura, this has given her and Jasmine great comfort.

His children are too young to remember the wake and funeral, but Laura has a friend that is going to take some of the flowers, dry the petals, and turn them into a powder that can be used to make jewelry and tokens for the children that will give them a physical connection to the two days that we all came together to say goodbye to their father, when they were too young at the time to be able to say goodbye themselves.

Friends and family have been sharing stories all week of witnessing small signs of faith and hope that Dave is at peace and with the Lord. Several of us shared that we just so happen to see butterflies in our yard last Saturday.

Dave’s wife gave the most heartfelt eulogy, as did many of Dave’s close friends:

Dave LOVED his family, but he didn’t stop there. He and Jasmine cancelled their cable, the XBox, and the internet, so they could focus on quality time together with the children, his siblings, his parents, his friends.

Dave didn’t waste time talking ill of others EVER!!! He would do anything to help out a friend. Dave would give you the shirt off his back. Dave ALWAYS had a smile on his face.

It’s so easy for a family to fall into despair when a loved one is lost, especially when they are so young.

I’m so grateful to see my friend and her family turning to faith and healing in their loss, and I only hope that we can continue to support them to the best of our ability.

I pray that ALL who have lost a loved one can find this same kind of path toward hope as they go about their grieving.

Thank you so much for allowing me to share this with you all.