The Passing of David Kelly

The Passing of David Kelly

Diane and I did not know David a long time and came into his circle through Chad and Sara. We spent most Sundays together at Church and went to long spirited lunches afterwards. He would, against our wishes, provide our Grandson, Robert, with lethal doses of candy from the café at Church. We were occasional co-workers and we visited his home a few times to celebrate birthdays and holidays.

What I learned in that short time was that David Kelly was a great man. Not like Kings, Presidents or Soldiers but as a human being. He was kind and generous and always there to lend a helping hand. But besides his family and friends, he loved his City and our church, Compass Church.

He was a big part of Colleyville, Texas and Colleyville was a big part of him. He served this community both politically and spiritually and helped make it a better place for its citizens and our congregation. David had been a Mayor of Colleyville and folks still referred to him as Mr. Mayor when they saw him on the street.

The other thing I learned was David had a good heart. He was a good provider, father and grandfather and most of all, a good friend. He was always there with a kind word, a bit of encouragement and ready with a joke to lighten your load. He was generous with his time and resources and a prayer if you needed it.

My favorite memory I will take with me was a birthday we spent with him. Little known fact, David loved Bingo. He had won big the week before his birthday and, instead of buying something for himself, reinvested those winnings in his friends and family by sponsoring us at a Bingo Hall. Of course nobody but David won that night. It was so entertaining watching David; he was engrossed in his Bingo devices, giving advice, shielding his eyes with a green banker's visor I had gotten him for that event, surrounded by other Bingo enthusiasts and, of course, people watching, kind of like visiting Wal Mart after 10 p.m.

Things were tough for him in his final days but I’m sure he was reminded of another David who struggled with fear and doubt. In Psalm 59:16, David was aware King Saul had sent men to capture and possibly kill him, but David leaned on his faith in God to get him through praying:

“But I will sing of Your power;

Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;

For You have been my defense

And refuge in the day of my trouble."

It was tough watching him in his final hours. My wife, Diane, remarked how life, sometimes, can be cruel as we watched him struggle. I agreed because I didn’t want our friend to suffer so. I felt a rich life shouldn’t end this way.

But then it came to me that our friend David was no longer there. God had already picked him up and was probably on his way home. What we were seeing was what God intended us to see. God had gathered his friends and family at his bedside because He saw something in us that needed work.

God knew we all had thoughts and feelings of anger, sadness, regret, remorse and forgiveness that hadn’t been dealt with yet. Some had been consistently caring for our friend for quite some time and knew their efforts, though at times heroic, were coming to an end. Others had been brought up with him and knew those days were coming to a close. Some of us had only known him for a short time and wished we could have had more time to share with him.

God is a realist after all and knew that in the days to come, these feelings wouldn’t subside easily but the time we spent there would comfort us in knowing we had been there for him and had his back when he needed us most. After having watched over him and reflecting, most of us left to go back to the world we knew and soon after, David finished his journey with his family close by.

And I know for sure David has found and passed through that narrow gate of Matthew 7:13-14.What comforts me the most is knowing he is now with Jesus, probably peppering him with some probing questions that needed answering (if there are cellphones and Google in Heaven, David is working his phone really hard) and meeting up with those who proceeded him.

My hope is we’ll meet up again someday but for now, David, thanks for being my friend.