Gruff, distant, unkempt... would likely be your initial impression of Don. And, it might be your lasting impression if you failed to catch the glimmer in his kind eyes that drew you to the heart of the man.
Don could sit in the midst of conversation without saying a word, sometimes listening to his music with headphones. But he made friends with every waitress in the restaurants he frequented. He knew them all by name, and they greeted him with affection each time he came in. And when he was in the mood to talk, sometimes only after he knew you well, it was worth the wait.
Don carried treats for kids and critters alike. He would reach in his pocket for candy to offer a child (from 1 to 92). Squirrels, birds, and other creatures in his backyard— and on any street he regularly walked— became accustomed to seeds, shelled peanuts, and other tasty morsels strewn their way.
Don's eyes lit up most in response to his wife Jeanne. Vivacious, talkative, loving, and gentle, she was the perfect match for him. And she loved him dearly. Their shared laughter could evoke a smile from anyone within earshot. They had the comfortable companionship and commitment that sustains long marriages.
If you only looked on the outside, you'd miss the measure of this or any man. God does not look upon us as the dust he clutched from the earth to breathe into life. He sees the inward man. It is the part of us that is made in His image and grows to be more like Him when God's Spirit is given reign. The lasting impression we will carry of Don comes from the hand of God.
Don valued the things most of us overlook or take for granted.
Don passed from this life yesterday afternoon. But, the story won't end there. Because Don's heart belonged first and foremost to God, and his soul is in God's keeping, where it will be safe for all eternity.
