Clay

Crawfish Boil April 2013
Top Left: Clay, Jennifer and Aubree; Andy; the farm; Will and Ben; me and Laine; the crawfish

 

I've put off writing this blog post for many reasons.  There are really no words to express the sadness everyone has felt since Clay passed away.  Clay lost his battle with cancer on June 6, 2013.  It's been about 18 months since I shared much about Clay and his diagnosis.  You can read more here, here, here, and here.   

 

Clay is my cousin.  He was a very special person.  He had a great smile and was truly a nice guy.  His parents are Patsy and Bill. Clay's brother is Andy and his sister is Laine.  Andy and Clay are farmers and co-owners of a farm in east Texas.  They were as close as any brothers I've ever seen.  They worked together and had a tight-knit group of friends who hunted and fished together.  Laine was a few years younger, but their bond was so special.  Clay's wife is Jennifer and their sweet daughter is Aubree.  Mark and I were so impressed with Jennifer and how she stayed by Clay's side through it all unwavering in love and devotion. 

 

I understand the cycle of life, and I know what heartache comes with the passing of a loved one.  My heart was broken when Papa Ralph passed away, but it was a different feeling with Clay.  Papa was 95 and it was his time.  Clay was 37, and it's too young to let someone go.  This is the first time I've had a family member pass away that was so young.  It just doesn't make sense.  To know that nothing will ever be the same for those closest to Clay is hard to accept.  There's a void.  There's something missing.  It's Clay--a life unfinished.

 

I don't believe everything happens for a reason.  I do believe God is always in control.  I don't think those two statements contradict each other. 

 

Maybe with time things will make more sense or maybe they won't. 

 

Please remember Clay's wife and daughter, his parents, brother and sister, and his many close friends as they continue to grieve the loss of such a special person.  My heart is heavy for them.

 

Psalm 144:4

Man is like a breath;
    his days are like a passing shadow.