You've got a friend in me

     

     "Sweet is the memory of distant friends and those long-departed."

— Beulah Eagles

     "Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart."

 — Washington Irving    

     Friends are gifts we are blessed with as we make our journeys through life. Some remain, others leave us all too soon. 

     I wish to honour the memory of a dear, sweet friend named, Fran, whose life left a lasting impression on my life, in so many ways. 
     

     Today would have been her birthday. She left us at age 59.  Fran was a beautiful girl, with a flawless complexion, strong facial features, and limpid, brown eyes complementing her lovely auburn hair. Her quiet demeanour added to her attractiveness. 

     

     Becoming best friends during high school, and continuing throughout our college days, we soon sensed we were kindred spirits with similar dreams and aspirations. Our careers enabled us to live and work in the same city. 
     
     When Nels, the "love-of-my-life" came along, she would often be the fourth person on our double date. 

     As I moved west, we spanned the many miles between us, with frequent correspondence. I missed her greatly. 

     

     Once, while she was visiting us in the West, Nels had the bright idea of inviting his bachelor-friend, Lew, over for dinner, engaging our match-making skills. 

     Wonder of wonders, the rest became history! 

     Once more, having my best friend close by, was exciting. It was not to last. 

     

     Soon, she and her family "took up roots" in northern British Columbia, and, once more, hand-written contact became the norm. 

     The ensuing years, found us sharing the excitement of each new addition to our growing families, along with the joys, sorrows and the many blessings God had allowed us. 

     

     Fran's quiet perseverance and dedication to her family and friends, always with a kind and gracious spirit, left a lasting impression on me, even to this day. 

     

     

     Fran quietly lived her faith, daily, accepting life "head-on," and faced her death in much the same way. When giving her valedictory speech at our high school graduation, she included these lines: 

"For life is the mirror of king and slave, 
'Tis just we are and do. 
Then give to the world the best you have, 
And the best will come back to you." 

     
     It seemed this message became hers. Her quiet hope and faith in God helped her focus on letting her light shine so as to make a positive difference in the world. In the midst of darkness and difficulties, it was  obvious her faith kept her strong. 
     Already having been diagnosed with cancer, she was called upon to bear the grief of the early and sudden death of her daughter, slightly more than a year prior to her own passing. Just now, reading again my last letter from her, (less than a month before her leaving us), I'm over-whelmed with her love and concern for me... her forever friend.
  

     Visiting her in the cancer clinic in Vancouver, never once did I hear a complaint or a question, "Why me?" 

     

     With the faith of a child, she believed that God would take care of her family for her, and would see them all "safely home."

     Typical of "my Fran" strong and organized, during her last days she arranged her funeral service. Still focusing on the One she dearly loved and knew she would soon meet, she included the following reminder for us.    

     

..."To Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you before His glorious Presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more. Amen."   
— Jude 1: 24-25.    

     Fran, you were my "every-day hero!" I still miss you.

— beulah