The Lord Giveth and He Taketh Away...

This was a verse in a song that we sang at MOPS today and when Raquel spoke on it I lost it. My very dear friend Jeff is dying. That is so hard to say. He has a wife, whom I love dearly too, and 3 children, Bren (18), Bekah (14) and Jeffrey Jr (2). We have been friends for a very long time and I always thought he would be around. He's one of those honery types that you assume will outlive anything and everything. Strongwilled and stubborn. And Andi, his wife, is the most sweet, down to earth, loving and patient person you will ever meet. She is amazing. They have always had a complex relationship that would only work between the two of them. They are good together. Jeff is an alcoholic...has been for many years. His liver has failed him and his kidneys have failed him and now they have him on morphine and adavan until the rest shuts down. As of today they have given him 24-48 hours to live. I can't believe that I am losing my friend, and my friend is losing her husband and their kids are losing their father. It's so hard to accept and rationalize. I went to see him the other day and I don't even know if he realized I was there. Did he know it was me? Does he know I love him? Does he know that I will stand by his wife forever? I hope so. It was so hard seeing him just lying there. In so much pain and so incoherent. He is so young, too young to die! This is so unfair. I wish I had some miracle to work....some key to unlock the healing he would need to survive. I feel so helpless. I don't want to lose my friend. I want him here to sit on my couch while we bbq and watch Nascar or Football or do fireworks for the 4th of July. I will miss his laugh, his smile, his sense of humor and all of his stobborness. I love you Jeffrey Dale...I am so happy that I had you as a friend for the time that I did. I hope that you have found God and I hope that you have reconciled with Him. I hope to see you in heaven one day! May God bring you peace my friend.