A Draining Day

Today I went to the funeral of Sam Kelley. Sam was 66 when he passed away from cancer. He was a horseshoer....and an good one. He was old school. "Shoe'em like they stand and they won't limp."

Sam was not an old guy, and although I haven't seen him in quite a few years, I went with my Dad to pay my respects. It's just what you do in the western community I like to think I live in.

Sam had been sick for quite a while. He had gone to M.D. Anderson and let them do what they do in the effort of making someone well. I know they have a pretty good success rate...but not so with Sam. After many, many treatments he had decided he had enough...as one of his son-in-laws told my Dad today, he was going on the "Sam plan". He wanted to go home.

Before he left the hospital he told his family that when he got home, he wanted to put on a clean shirt and set up the video camera. He wanted to give his own Eulogy...no one else knew what he wanted said better than he did and he wanted to say it. Wow.

At the service today the video was played and it was very touching as you would imagine. Sam cried and told the story of how he had made it to the point he was in his life. He loved his friends and since he was running out of time, he wanted them to know how much. The only way he could relay his message to all was the tape.

Sam also spoke of salvation and how lots of people might die tomorrow....and not know the Lord. Sam was emotional throughout the whole tape and it was beautiful. What a great idea.

On the way home I thought about the whole tape and the emotions that you feel when faced with something like that. Sam was crying while he spoke on tape....but not crying because he was scared to die....he was crying because he loved his family and friends. Wow again.

When faced with his own mortality what did he do? He wanted to send a message to all who knew him and it was important to him that he do so. So important he had to try it several times in order to get through it....what a man.

I was just a little kid when I was around Sam Kelley for the most part. But today I witnessed (again) what it takes to be a good christian man. Faith, Love for family and friends, and the ability to do what most people cannot... when faced with their imminent demise....

I know Sam is where he always wanted to be....


Walker