Some days aren’t easy.
Over the past few days, I’ve had to say goodbye to two great people… two wonderful friends who were taken from this life long before their time.
My former colleague Sara Catterall, a top class, highly skilled, and dedicated telecoms engineer, who I had the pleasure of working with for many years, passed away at the age of 45 after a brave battle with cancer.
What a great company of people crowded into the chapel at her funeral, many wearing the requested tangerine colours in honour of Sara’s favourite football team Blackpool.
The sadness of the occasion was offset by the genuine warmth of her family, friends and colleagues who had come to pay their respects.
Today, I also said goodbye to my good friend Dave Wood whom I’ve known since youth.
So many happy memories of youth camps, holidays, parties, and chats. Dave was an amazing encourager, a people person, a fun, charismatic, and wise man, who – with his brilliant sense of humour – lit up any room he entered.
Right up to the day he passed away, Dave talked passionately about the ability and power of God to heal him of his cancer. For some reason, that didn’t happen. But our loss of the gentle giant is heaven’s great gain.
It doesn’t take much to imagine Dave’s dry wit creating laughter, in heaven’s welcome party thrown for him!
A few days ago, I shared this comment on Facebook: “Nice people make a big difference to your world.”
It was just something that came to me as I contemplated the extraordinary lives and dedication of these two amazing people who had battled against the odds and had showed us how to live gracefully when everything seemed to be stacked against them.
Sara and Dave, I salute you. Thank you for your example, your inspiration, your friendship, and the high standard you set for us to follow.
I could leave it there…
But I won’t…
Listen… this Friday, 26th September, it’s the MacMillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning.
All around the nation, there’s going to be a coffee morning somewhere near you.
What a great tribute it would be to Dave, Sara, and many others that you and I know who have been affected by cancer, if we pull out all the stops to help MacMillan Nurses raise a record amount.
Let’s dig deep and make it the most expensive cup of coffee we’ve ever bought!
Remember, nice people make a big difference to your world.
Go and make a big difference to someone’s world today!
Thank you Dave for these lovely words. It has been a tough day but definitely one to remember because of all the love in that room! We are all truly blessed to have known this man. I will definitely be making the most of the Macmillan coffee morning and we will make it an extra special on in memory of our dearly departed friends and family. xxx Michele