TWO THOUGHTS FROM "UNCLE FRED'S" FUNERAL

Another funeral last week--the husband of my dear friend. He had polio as a youngster and it came back, as it sometimes does, and he had difficulty walking, more and more as time went on, until his muscle tone was simply gone and his body shut down. He was a gentle man and here are two thoughts that (hopefully) will change the way I treat others.

Fred always wore a straw hat while

walking around the neighborhood.

One man said something like this: Uncle Fred and I used to go golfing. I'm not a very good golfer but all I needed was one good shot. For the next few days Uncle Fred would say, over and over, "Remember that great stroke you hit? That was a good shot." Then he said, "Uncle Fred was that way for everyone, all through life--always remembering our good points."

Then a young woman said, "The only way to take the sorrow out of death is to take the love out of life." Then she went on to say, "Most of all, I remember how Uncle Fred made us feel."

This is how I want to live my life. I want to help people realize how truly wonderful they are--and everyone is wonderful, they just might not realize it.

Thanks, Fred, you will be missed. I hope to be a better person because of your example.