An Unexpected Loss

Friday evening Jenny and I were waiting for a dinner table with Jenny's sister and parents. While we sat, I checked my facebook. A friend from Texarkana had written on her wall, "Praying for the Burns Family."

Immediately, I clicked on a profile belonging to one of the Burns kids. It read, "Dad had a heart attack and doctors say he is not doing good...please pray"

That was at 5:50 pm.

Within a half hour he had posted, "He didn't make it..."

The Burns are without a doubt one of the greatest families I have ever known. Dr. Burns was a pediatrician, and adored by his patients and their families. I did not have the privilege of being one of his patients. He did not start practicing in Texarkana until I was a few years old. Similarly, most of my friends had other doctors because we all used the doctor we had from birth.

He was devoted to his practice. I remember sitting next to them at countless football games and ballet recitals and hearing his pager go off. Or later in the age of the enormous Motorolla Hand-held Cell Phones, sitting in a restaurant while he talked to a frantic mother..."How high is the fever? Is the cough productive?"

He was devoted God, to his Church and certainly to his family. His wife is one of my favorite people in the world. Some years I send her mother's day cards from the Hallmark category, "Like a Mother." She was my sixth grade Sunday school teacher, and the one who led me to Jesus at Children's Camp when I was twelve.

His children are the best of the best.

Clay, the eldest, is one of my lifelong friends. We attended and graduated high school together. Clay was a groomsman in my wedding.

Kevin, only one grade behind me and Clay, went on choir tours with me year after year. We roomed together. We got into trouble together. He attended Ouachita with me and we were in the same graduating class. He welcomed his first child in the past year.

Emily, four years behind Kevin, is the little sister everyone wishes they had. Adorable. Bubbly. From the time I can remember. The epitome of a Southern Belle. She welcomed her first child this past year.

To say these people are near and dear to my heart doesn't even come close to how much I love them. As Jenny and I drove home from dinner on Friday evening I told her, "Almost every fun memory of my childhood and school years involves a member of that family."

Today I will leave for Texarkana to be with them. I may hug Mrs. Burns and not let go for an hour or so. I plan on spending a lot of time with Clay. I am heartbroken that this happened - and even more so at this time of year.

We grew up in an amazing church, and they are still rooted there. The only comfort I have had since Friday evening is knowing that they have been surrounded by people who love them every bit as much as I.

Pray for this precious, precious family through the days and weeks ahead.

I found this photo on Mrs. Burn's Facebook page, and I hope they don't mind my sharing it here.

Thank you, Dr. Burns, for being the force behind a family that has touched countless lives.

I am a better person having known you.