It has been a rough week for many of us who lost a friend this past week. But last night I heard Jim’s own words on an old podcast, when he was talking about a terrible loss in his own life. So today I am reconciling that Jim has finished the work God created him to do and he has been called home to heaven.
There are soooo many people, very literally, all over this world that he introduced Jesus to over his entire lifetime, and so many of us still here who were challenged and changed by the example he lived.
A personal story -
- Our oldest son's middle name was given in honor of Jim, because of the impact and relationship he had with our family and most importantly, with my husband.
- We spent a weekend with them in Indianapolis when Derek was still just a baby. Jim was determined that he could make me a cup of coffee that I would like. It was a mocha something-something...that still tasted like coffee.
- On our recent family trip to Florida we were blessed to be able to stay at The Warrior House at Jim and Sunny’s, and somehow they knew our kids so well, that they had placed a gift that was so perfectly chosen for each one of the kids throughout the house. Superhero nerds unite!
- On our return home, we were going to meet up with Jim and Sunny, and he had asked us to bring some paperwork back with us that he needed. Even after a late flight home after a week's vacation, I felt the urge to NOT sleep in, and go with Paul that morning - at the very least to say thank you for the amazing accommodations. They were there, lifting up real superheroes, doing amazing work honoring our wounded veterans. When I saw Jim, he started pulling graphic t-shirts out of the stock they were selling, “Here, Disney’s Cruella - That’s a Jordan shirt! And what about Cobra Kai…that would be perfect for Danek…and I have the perfect shirt for you, you need this Schoolhouse Rock tee!” I just laughed as he piled these t-shirts in my arms.
This was the Jim I knew. Fast-paced and loving people.
We would all do well to learn to just love one another.
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