Tribute to an old friend....

I have a friend from growing up back home that passed away suddenly a couple of weeks ago. Since this time I've been feeling a few things. I look back and I wonder if I've touched anyones life. If I've made a difference. This friend, Byron, is one who (while I was an easy target) never made fun of me and always said encouraging things to me. And that memory of him has lasted. There isn't really a forum for this so since it's my blog I'm posting it.....here's what I put on the guestbook entry for his family....

I've taken some time to sign this guestbook. I wanted my words to truly pay tribute to the individual that I knew Byron to be. I wanted them to be unique, special, like he was. Today I learned that Heavenly Father created such words as 'unique' and 'special' because there are some people that stand worthy of such great words that they are to be repeated time and again. I've know Byron since I was five years old. There are few people from my childhood that I can remember as truly uplifting and loving and Byron is one of them. I don't have a memory where he wasn't encouraging me or complimenting me. Things which I desperately needed at the time. And now, after his passing I am again grateful for the uplifting that he is capable to provide. I just watched a video that he did from the Amazon and have been spiritually uplifted. Through this video Byron has strengthened my testimony of my Heavenly Father and his love for me. I know that my Heavenly Father will provide for me as I strive to live the gospel. I regret not having a greater interaction with Byron in our years since school but an extremely grateful for the feelings of hope and happiness that he has provided me throughout the years. I found an article today by one of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle of the church that I belong to. It was published in a church magazine back in 1976 and is title, "The Dead Who Die in the Lord" he quotes, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Ps. 116:15.) Byron is precious to our Heavenly Father and I am grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit to allow me Byron's company during this mortal journey and I look forward to mingling with him again in the eternities and someday introducing our families in that paradise that awaits.

I hope that I can be remember that way someday. I hope that there was a day, time or place that I made someone feel good. That I helped them remember that we are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us! I also found a great talk by Bruce R. Mconkie in the November 1976 Ensign. I won't post the whole thing here. You can read it if you want. It is titled, "The Dead Who Die in the Lord" I loved it and found it rather fitting for the occasion.