I was thinking today how if you died, what wonderful things I would have in my heart to say about you at your funeral. It would be really hard for me to get up and say anything at all, for I would be so heartbroken and probably unable to utter any sound other than sighs of grief. But thinking of what a beautiful person you are, it would be wrong of me to keep silent and not tell the world how beautiful you were. 

I have many things I would say: 

How you never spoke poorly of anyone, and how that inspired me to be like you in that way.

How you loved your friends and family and wife and son deeply, more than you loved yourself. 

How you loved the Lord God above all, and how you spoke the gospel so beautifully to others when God gave you an opportunity to do so.

How you made me feel beautiful even when I felt my worst, and how you loved me unconditionally…when I so often didn’t deserve it.

How brave and courageous you were on a daily basis, but especially in facing the hatred and violent threats of our enemies in war-filled countries.

How you encouraged me to be brave and courageous, when I am prone to being fearful.

How you were faithful to me everyday, which is a rarity in this society. 

How you were faithful to your country and put your life at risk to protect her, even though you so humbly say you were just a kid who didn’t know what else to do at the time.

How you grew up pretty much on your own and had every reason in the world to turn out to be anything less than the beautiful, honorable, God-fearing man that you are.

How there is no one else in the world who could ever replace you, and I was so very blessed to be the one you married and loved and bore children with. 

How I am a better person because of you, and how your children are more blessed than they will ever know for having you as their father.

There is more, but now I am in tears at the thought of ever having to say these words due to you being gone. So I am saying them to you now, hoping this is the only time I’ll ever say them.

I love you, David. To say I am grateful for you is the biggest understatement.