In Loving Memory of Ted

                                              

A dear man has passed away, someone to whom I felt very close for many years. He left behind a loving wife, two children, and two grandchildren. I am going to miss him so much. To say that many people in our church and community are going to miss Ted is an understatement. What he gave to his community, church, family, and friends can not be replaced by any one man.

 I will miss seeing him wearing his army uniform on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.

                                                   

He always wore it so proudly, and we were proud of him, and the other veterans who stood beside him year after year.

I will miss seeing him the four times a year our church serves Community Breakfast.     

                                 

He fried up the ham, and he'd be there before everyone else, even before me and I'd get there by 5:45 a.m. most times.

                                                

Those cold winter and fall mornings were the hardest for Ted because his feet would get cold. But he stood out there and fried up every last piece of that ham. Folks all over the county said our breakfasts were the best. I think it was Ted cooking the ham that made it exceptional.

I will miss his expertise and craftmanship when I prepare for Vacation Bible School. Ted was my first responder for VBS. Whenever I needed something technical taken care of, be it to construct the wooden frames for the backdrops of our sanctuary, or to hang a banner, Ted was the one who would do it. One phone call, and he took care of it. There is one thing everyone knew about Ted: he was a doer. He was involved in every aspect of our church, and in the community. A generous and loving man was our Ted.

What I will miss most is his presence behind me in church every Sunday. A sort of ritual developed between us, each Sunday. I would hug Ted just before the church service started. During the service, when the pastor invited us all to greet someone we hadn't seen all week, Ted would hug me a second time. I don't exactly remember when the two-hugs started, but I'd say it's been at least five years, maybe longer.

I hadn't realized how important the two-hugs had become to me until one day Ted wasn't there. I looked for him. I worried, and later asked about him, and found out he was just away that week. I had sure missed that second hug.

I saw him last Sunday, and he was looking quite well, healthy even. I hugged him as I passed him, and sat down in front of him like I generally do. Later, the pastor invited us to greet each other, so off I went hugging people, but when I returned to my pew, Ted was not in his seat behind me. I glanced around the sanctuary, and didn't see him, so I thought "He's on the other side of the room hugging someone." And I sat down.

A few seconds later, just as our pianist began to play a hymn, I glanced back over my shoulder, and there was Ted just about to slide into his seat beside his wife. He saw me, grinned, and abruptly stood up, stepping out into the aisle. I stood up quickly, and stepped back into the aisle, and we hugged one more time. Our second hug.

I loved hugging Ted. Sometimes I felt that it was my dad I was hugging, and he hugging me.

I didn't know that Sunday's hug would be our last. When I got the phone call on Monday, I was shocked... no, it couldn't be. He was fine yesterday. No, not Ted. I cried. Please, not Ted.

But we know that we all must go in due time. I heard once that God gives us life on this earth to complete a mission, and once we have completed it, He calls us home. I believe that Ted's mission on this earth was completed.

I can hear our Lord saying to Ted, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

                                   

But those two hugs won't ever be lost. On Sundays, I am going to remember Ted every time I hug his wife... twice.

He is away, but when I remember Easter Sunday, I can only feel joy in my heart that Ted has crossed over into the realm of eternity. My tears of sadness quickly turn to tears of joy for his new life.

Still, we, his family in Christ, will miss this wonderful man more than words can say. More than my feeble, searching words can say.

Rest in peace, my friend.

 

Tags: Ted, Veteran, Community Breakfasts, Church, hugging, D's Design, Sorrow, Loss, Joy