Because he told me to too

Today is my friend Dave's birthday. He would be turning 49 today except that he died from acute myelogenous leukemia almost 18 months ago. He is missed.

I wrote him a lot of letters while he was in the hospital that year. I can't keep it brief when I write most of the time, so he got a lot of very long letters from me. But I guess when you're stuck in a hospital all day every day, long letters aren't the worst thing that can happen to you.

He told me a couple of years ago, "If you're ever thinking of switching careers, writing would be a good route for you to take. I love your letters! You should write." To which I told him, "I don't want to write yet. Maybe someday. But for now I write for you."

I was in a meeting earlier this week when the theory was thrown out that the USPS is going to be obsolete in another year or two. Letters will be a thing of the past. I think about how every letter I sent to either New Mexico or California was a little lifeline for the 11 months Dave fought cancer and it makes me sad that there might very well come a day when no one writes letters anymore, just emails or blogs or updates facebook statuses.

When Erika told me to start a blog, I wasn't really sure if I was ready to write again or to write for more people than just one. But it seemed like good timing, and I know if Dave was here he would say, "Robin, you should write!"

I'm grateful and amazed at how God can heal, how He can restore and make all things new. I remember the extremely sad and brokenhearted woman I was a year ago and am so grateful for how He has put me back together again. He is a good God and I write for Him above all others.

But I also write for Dave because I miss him and because he told me to too. Happy birthday, Dave! You are missed and not forgotten. And don't worry, I'm writing :)