I have written this post in my head no less than 20 times with hundreds of mental revisions. This past week has been a rough one. Monday I attended the funeral for one of my good friends and fraternity brother. Finding out that he had passed away was hard enough, but when I found out that he had chosen to leave this world, that was a tough pill to swallow.
It has been a few years since I sat down and talked to him, but I knew that if I ever needed him, he would have been there. Likewise, I would have been there for him. But thanks to distance and time, we had not reconnected and he probably didn't know that I was there for him. This part leads me into the purpose behind this post.
Throughout the 43 years of my life, I have crossed the path of literally thousands of people. (Work, hometown, college, mission, etc.) Of those thousands, there are so many of you that I consider my friend. (Family included here!) Each of you have had an impact on my life, maybe you have said something that inspired me to be better or you did something to help me alter the course of my life. Because of your influence upon my life, we are friends, we have a bond and I immediately care for you. I care about you, I hurt when you hurt, I share in your joys, and I am excited and nervous with you. I don't want to drag out or belabor my point, so I will be rather succinct and say your are my friend and I will always be there for you! I don't care if it has been 5, 10 or 20 years since we last talked, or even if it was just yesterday. If any of you are ever in a situation where you are hurting, where you need to talk to someone, if you want someone to pray for you, or if just need a smile or someone to say they love you, I beg of you: Please, please give me a call. Email me! Comment on my blog! Send me a text! Facebook message me! Snail mail me! Whatever it is, whatever it takes, let me know and I will do my damnedest to be there for you.
When I heard about the passing of my friend, the person that told me also told me the following: "Clinton Painter, please know you are forever loved by many." What a great and wonderful thought and pick me up that was to hear those words. Being told you are loved is one of the greatest blessings I also want each of you, my friends to know that you are Forever Loved by Me! Don't EVER doubt it!
Postscript: I wrote the post yesterday, but tossed and turned about it all night long. Finally decided I needed to add this note. I debated back and forth for several days before I finally chose to write this post. First, it is not my story to share and secondly there are others that are hurting worse than I am. I didn't want to do anything that would cause them additional undue pain. However, I did feel the need to share these thoughts.
Additionally, please know that I have taken a very base attempt to approach a problem that is neither simple or even easily defined. I am not trying to minimize or find solution to a very real and very serious challenge many people face. I know there are many people in our world that feel like they are alone in this crazy world. My post is an attempt to let those of you who may at times feel this way, that is not true. There are people in the world whose life you have touched and you might not even know it. These people, including me, do in fact care for you very much.
Love,
--Clinton
1 comment:
Well said, friend! Thanks for being my friend over all of the years. I know you would always be there for me, and I hope you know I will always be here for you! I think many of us had your same thoughts when we learned of what happened. You are wonderful and wrote what many of us were thinking. Take care! :)
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