I lost a friend today...

Today has been a very sad day for me. I know in my head that my friend is in the home he has traveled toward all his life. But, my heart is sad.
We first met Dennis and Annette Thompson in the early 1980's while attending Webb Chapel Church of Christ in Farmers Branch, Texas. We quickly became friends - Annette and I taught the "Tabitha" class together and our kids loved each other. When I had to return to work when my kids were VERY little, it was Annette who babysat them and loved them as if they were her own. Dennis was a quiet guy...until you got to know him. He had the best sense of humor. Their kids, Amy and Jason, were equally quiet, unless you happened upon them in the middle of a pillow fight with my Emily and Brad. Dennis' sister, Mitzi, was Brad's 1st grade teacher, and she even babysat our kids when we went on a couple of trips. My heart is hurting for her.
Dennis developed ulcerative colitis several years, but seemed to have that under some control. My information came from my sweet friend, Patti, but I don't know if I have the timeline exactly right. He had back surgery a few months back and then another surgery to repair something from the first surgery just a little while ago. Something went wrong then, also and so he had to have another procedure to "repair" that. He then had to be on his back for 5 days in the hospital, and according to what I've been told, was playing cards with his dad just a couple of days ago. That all began to fall apart yesterday afternoon. As the day progressed, it became evident that our Lord was calling Dennis home. Jason was in Oklahoma, but flew home and got to be with his dad. Their family was all together when Dennis passed from this life at 6:20 this morning. I am sad because we haven't seen them in so long. Pretty much the only place we would run into them was at a wedding, or sadly, at a funeral. Dennis was such an amazing student of the Bible. He was one of the smartest guys I have ever known, but his knowledge of the Bible was astounding. I have a feeling there are a few Old Testament "guys" sitting at his feet right now, amazed at all he has learned through study.
I am sad for Annette, because she LOVED her husband. He was "her guy". I know she knows where he is, but he was only 49 years old. My age.
Roy and I will go to the Memorial Service on Saturday and it will be difficult, even though we KNOW where he is. It will be extra difficult because we didn't take the time over the past few years to go visit more...to catch up with old friends...to share in joys and sorrows over the years. The only comfort I feel right now is that we WILL get to see him again someday. Right now, I am asking for you to pray for the Thompson family. Their loss is so great...but Dennis' gain is also great. I love this family and my sadness just overflows. There was a dark time in our lives several years ago, where Dennis was a constant source of encouragement...constant. As I drove home tonight after helping my sister work on her classroom, KLTY was having one of those nightly call-in shows, asking listeners to call in and talk about a special single parent. A woman's voice came on and she asked for prayers for a woman who became a single parent today, and then went on to talk about how Dennis had touched her life and the lives of so many. I had to pull my car over and stop...I couldn't stop crying. That's how much this man, and his family, means to so many people. I am just so sad.
Blessings to you...