Live like Bill Lived

Bill and Cora Withers are our neighbors, we knew Bill and Cora from Fayetteville Baptist Church, he was the former Pastor there and also served as the Pastor Emeritus after retiring from another local Church. We purchased the house we now live in from them. Bill is dying of leukemia, he calls himself a vampire because the only thing keeping him alive is weekly blood transfusions and occasionally some platelets to boost up his blood. Bill's body stopped making good blood awhile back, the leukemia has destroyed his bone marrow. Bill is surrounded by his large and loving family, daily people come from various places to pay their respects to him while he is alive and visit with him. The driveway at their house has different cars in it every day. The other night a local folk music group stopped in and Sharon and I were invited over for a hour concert in the Wither's living room, quite a treat. (There is nothing like live music, makes me wish I could play.) He mentioned to someone that he had never tasted lobster and the next night his grandson had some fresh ones delivered from Maine and they made a big lobster feast. I am trying to paint the picture of someone dying slowly without pain and with a lot of love. There are many ways to die, I've always thought that I'd like to "go" quickly, without a lot of fanfare and trouble, but seeing how Bill is dying has made me think that it is not such a bad way to go. You can settle old accounts, let people know how much they meant to you and pass on your blessings to your family and friends. The thought struck me and I am sharing it with you that in order to die like Bill is dying you have to live like Bill lived. He dedicated his life to serving God and others, his home was a place of hospitality, he would get up in the middle of the night and sit with the man next door who lived in the house we now live in when he was having a bad time. The list of things Bill did for others would be a long one. Well I am trying to live like Bill and stay in touch with our family, I hope that this becomes a weekly habit and that no one objects to my aimless ramblings.