He was one of the funniest and most charming people I have ever met. And it wasn’t just me—everybody seemed to love him and thought of him as the life of the party.
Yet, being good friends, he confided in me several times how desperately unhappy he really was. More than once he said that was the reason he was always cracking jokes and being a clown of sorts: He was covering up how sad he felt inside.
Specifically, if he didn’t laugh, he’d cry. So he aggressively pursued the former so he wouldn’t experience the latter.
His sadness ended when he died some years ago, joining his beloved wife who had died many years prior. You see, the reason he was so unhappy all the time was because he missed the love of his life.
The woman who had captured his heart and soul and never let go. His best friend. His companion. His…everything. Once she was gone, he was never complete again. Not even close.
I’ve thought of my friend many times recently and what it must have been like for him all those years. Day after day, week after week, year after year, and decade after decade of unrelenting pain and sorrow.
The thought of his pain grieves me to the very bone. How did he make it all that time? What was it like to spend virtually every waking moment thinking of the woman of his dreams, the one—and only—person who could make him happy and fulfilled?
Why do I bring all of this up? Because I’m in awe of my friend’s perseverance. And while I miss him dearly, I’m so glad he was finally reunited with the woman who had so captured his heart.
While I certainly don’t want to diminish the excitement and joy of seeing his Lord and Savior in person, I can’t help wondering what their reunion was like.
Did she run and jump into his arms? Have they ever stopped hugging? Have they ever stopped smiling? Have they ever stopped praising God?
What was it like to finally—finally—be reunited with the love of his life?
I wonder.
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.”1
1 2 Thessalonians 3:5
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