Remembering a good friend!

12 years ago today our dear friend Charlie Graham died.  We miss him still. He was always larger than life, and we are grateful for that, because it helps us to remember him.

The last time he bore his testimony in church, he said, "Why me?" and we all thought he was talking about the unfairness of his cancer diagnosis.

Then he said, "Why me?  Why have I been privileged to be on this earth with my wonderful family?  Why was I so fortunate to find the gospel?  Why is there so much love for me and my family?"

Charlie taught us all well!!

It's been 6 years

since Charlie Graham died. It seems long ago, but also almost like yesterday.

When I think about him, this is the image that comes up for me. I did visit him a few days before he died, but even then he didn't look diminished. He faced death squarely, and that was a blessing for him and for his family.

Sue bore a sweet testimony this month. She mentioned a woman she was taking care of in the doctor's office where she works. This woman's husband of 50 or 60 years had died four months earlier, and she was quite grief stricken. Sue commented that her first thought was, "Well, you got to have your husband for so much longer than I did."

Then she said she told the woman that maybe she should go to her church and seek comfort. The woman said she hadn't gone to church in a long time, but maybe she would go and see if that helped.

Sue said she realized that even though their time together on earth had been short, she had the promise of a life together forever - and that was a greater gift than the idea of more years here on earth.

The Grahams are a great family - they have "done Charlie proud." We wish them joy and comfort on this day of remembrance.