Thank You to My Dear Friend Who Supported Me for 40 Years

On our way back to Toronto from the Collingwood conference right after coming back from our European trip in June, we passed by Barrie, a city with a population about 150,000 people. We visited Don, whom we had not seen for a few months. Initially, he told me not to vsit him as he said he didn't feel so good. This was strange, I thought. We have been best friends for years.

Since retrirement, we both live in different cities. Whenever possible, we always try to see each other. Don thought he might have caught COVID, therefore, he should stay away. But I told him, we could see each other through the windows and waved at each other. He agreed as he was eager to see us as well. By the time we got to his house, he had chairs set out on his front yard, far apart from each other so that we could meet and talk outdoor. I was shocked at how my friend looked. He looked pale and his face horribly grey. We exchanged greetings and a few words. Trying to cut some fresh fruit for us, Don brought a knife from the house and walked toward us. I was alamred as he was swaying from side to side while holding the knife in his hand. I rushed up and asked if he was OK. He mumbled something saying that he was fine. I told him that he was not fine and pleaded for him to go to the emergency at the hospital. He did, but not right away. A week or so later we got a call from his family informing us that Don was admitted into the Royal Victoria Health Centre, Barrie. We went to visit him right away. We have been visiting him weekly supporting him and his family through this difficult time.

We just came back from visiting our best friend in Barrie. D. was discharged last week from the Royal Victoria Hospital and went home. He has been diagnosed with blood cancer about three months ago. He received one session of the chemo treatment and was informed that he did not respond to it at all. Therefore, the doctors told him that there was nothing else they could do for him. They said that he had two choices - transfer to a hospice or go home and live out his final days.

It was D.'s wish to go home. We went to visit him for the first time after his family took him home. It was heartbreaking for me to see my best friend of 40 years lying there with his eyes closed. We greeted him and he opened his eyes and gave me a smile as soon as he heard my voice. My dear friend was suffering and he was agiated. He could not say anything to me as he had no energy left after not eating much for almost three months. The cancer has robbed him of his cheerful peronality and good appetite. There was nothing I could do or say to cheer him up. I did bring my computer with me so I used my computer and played him some hymns.

God's words are powerful! As D. was listening to the beautiful hymns like Great is Thy Faithfulness, How Gret Thou Are, he started to calm down. When I played the song You Lifted Me Up, tears started to stream down my face This dear friend of mine has lifted me up for the past four decades.I thought about all the time when he was there for me - supporting, encouraging and believing in me when I was going through the vigorous principal selection process with the boards of education in Ontario.

When no one thought that an immigrant woman could become a public school principal in Toronto, my dear friend believed in me, encouraged and cheered me on throughout the year long process. He has become our dearest friend, our rock and our confident for the past forty years. I took this opportunity and let him know how much we love him and treasure his friendship. He was so strong and we never imagined that we would see him in this state - so fragile, weak and sick.

I wanted so much for our best friend to have salvation and to be in heaven so that we could meet again someday. I asked him to accept Jesus and asked God to forgive his sins. I encouraged him to say the prayer after me if he wanted to accept Jesus and believe in God. He did, even in his tiny weak voice!

I am so so sad about Don's illness and I will miss him dearly when the time comes. But I am hopeful and comforted by the fact that he said the acceptance prayer this evening in my presence. May God be with you, our dear beloved friend!

RT, Barrie, Ontario, Canada 10062024