11th February 2020

Today I lost a good friend. One who has been at my side for nearly four decades. There at my coming of age. There during my university days. There through my courting. There at my wedding. There through my honeymoon. There at the birth of all my children, and at their first day of school. There through my career. Through fair weather and foul. Through thick and thin. Faithful. Reliable. Trustworthy. Mate.

But now gone in an instant. I couldn’t believe it. Still can’t. “There’s nothing we can do. I’m sorry,” said the watch repairer, whom I’d engaged to replace the battery. One moment it was showing plenty of ticker. The next, it lay silent and motionless on the jeweller’s bench. With heavy heart and trembling lip, I took the precious remains in my hand, and now have laid my friend to rest in a plastic snap-lock bag. And mourned a little, and felt that part of me was gone.

But my Best Friend is still with me, who has been at my side for an equal number of years…. or more accurately, I have been at His. Faithful. Reliable. Trustworthy. Lord. And so I can say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” And also this, and with confidence: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” And so shall it be, through thick and thin, until I dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

DM 11^th February 2020