A friend of mine and her family invited a gentleman to live with them 8 years ago. At the time, he was suffering from COPD and living on his own in a small house in a rough part of town. The doctors said he had about 18 months to live. He had no living family members of his own and quickly became part of my friend’s family as he accepted their offer. He suffered on and off during this time and was receiving Hospice care for the past year until he passed away a few weeks ago. Today I went to his celebration of life that the family held in a lovely park with the pond and fountain nearby. They shared a touching presentation that highlighted his life. When he was born, he was immediately released to an orphanage and adopted at 9 months old. As a child, he contracted polio which left him in leg casts. During that time, his parents put him in a wagon so they could take him out and about. He kept that wagon as it was so meaningful to him and it was at the celebration. He learned to play the guitar and was in different bands in his early years. We were treated to a couple videos of him playing and singing. My friend’s 2 year old granddaughter danced and pointed to the video saying, “Papa”! The gentleman married and went into the medical field. During that time, he met a young person who was sick. They talked about the feelings of, Why Me? However, the young person said, Why NOT Me? This changed the man’s perspective and he tried to apply it to his life. He was in a very bad car accident some years into his marriage and it was uncertain if he would ever walk again. Unfortunately, his wife divorced him. He did rehab with a friend and was able to function again. He was a race enthusiast and built or restored his own cars. He turned to alcohol for a while, but got himself sober. His life was one of tragedy and perseverance. He turned away from religion at a young age due to the behavior of some of the people in the church. It makes me so sad when I hear those experiences. Yet, he was a deep thinker and got connected to a Hospice chaplain who was at the celebration. He asked the tough questions and the chaplain met him where he was, discussing whatever was on his mind. The ending song was, “Keep Me In Your Heart” by Warren Zevon. I am sure that God brought the gentleman and my friend’s family together and that the love that was exchanged gave him a longer physical life, and perhaps a more spiritual one as well. I continue to be amazed at the way my friend and her family opened their home and lives to this one person and what an blessing it was not just to them, but to those around them. His life made a difference.

I Found God today in the moving story of one life and the love of a selfless family.