[honeychile]

Sisters, I got some terrible news earlier today. A very good pastor friend mentor confidant of mine passed away yesterday. He had suffered a heart attack about a month & a half ago, and had a quad bypass - all just like my mom - but developed an infection after he got home, and died suddenly.

I've known Don for more than half of my life - I played soccer with his son, and even though he was the assistant pastor at a different church than mine, he counseled me quite a few times. We also worked together in the Fresh Start ministry - he'd always include me in the blessing in some sort of way ("Please bless this food, the hands that cooked it, and those who will partake - especially Honey, who hates the parsnips" type of thing). Don couldn't wait to meet mr. honeychile "to check him out", since my own daddy couldn't. He was from England, loved soccer, loved the Lord, and was always smiling like some sort of pastoral gnome.

Right now, I am devastated - more upset than I would be about the passing of some of my relatives. Thank heavens, my family understands and knows how I felt about Don. While I'm so certain that Don is dancing today with his Lord, I'm being pretty selfish and am deeply mourning him. His phone has been so busy, so I can't even offer my condolences to his wife. Praise the Lord that his children & grandchildren were with him!

Damn, I'm rambling... but I'm also sobbing as I type this. I haven't felt this badly since my own dad passed away two years ago. Please, if you think of it, please include the Wilsons and the many other lives Don touched in your prayers. One of my best testimonies has Don in the centre of it; maybe I'll share it someday with y'all. Right now, I'm raw.