1. God

2. Because you welcomed me

3. Because of your hearty greeting the next time I saw you

4. Because of your ongoing encouragement

5. Because you took the time

6. “Grateful to be alive, because there is no rational explanation for how I survived the situations I put myself in”

7. Because of your love for your children

8. And your mother

9. And for visiting me when I broke my ankle and bringing me my medicine

10. For how you accepted sickness and impending death, your calm, peaceful expression

11. speaking with what was left of your voice barely above a croak or a whisper

12.  Who knows how many you helped, who could count, how much was possible because of your showing up and setting up

13. The book you carried around and showed to me, wordless yourself, that helped me think differently

14. You had an imperious quality, but by the last days you taught us all humility

15. Brother – was what you called me, but I was one of legions  frater ave atque vale

Postscript:

Just read Lindsey’s post , Numbered Days, which puts me in mind of Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

I don’t believe there are accidents or coincidences.