Chris

Today marks five years since the Lord called my beloved younger brother Chris home. God gave Chris to us for 42 years, 10 months and 25 days. When I think of his 15,669 days on this earth I'm reminded of the words to the old hymn, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through."



Some of you knew Chris only as the young boy or teen...some of you may have only known Chris as the grown man, and some of you reading this may have never had the wonderful privilege to know Chris at all. No matter where you are in this list I hope that after reading these few words you will learn something new and wonderful about this very special...and only brother of mine.


Chris left to carry on this earthly pilgrimage a wonderful, loving wife and two beautiful children...all three of whom enjoy an extraordinarily close relationship with the Lord.


Also left to carry on are two of the most loving and giving parents God has placed on this earth, a grandmother, three sisters, many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins who love him dearly and, to this day, miss his physical presence and gut-busting, red-faced, tears-rolling laughter in an almost unbearable manner.


While living on this side of heaven Chris was a good brother, beloved son, sweet grandson, cool uncle, quiet nephew, devoted husband and loving father...a man faithful to his church and a man who loved the Lord and his family.


Chris dearly loved animals. I remember when we were growing up our house was littered with scraps of paper with my mom's simple little sketches...horses, cows, birds, dogs, cats, giraffes, lions and lambs. Chris was forever asking mom to draw a particular animal and read to him the passage of scripture about how one day the lion would lie down with the lamb.


I'm so glad he followed his calling and chose a career in the medical field...treating and tenderly caring for people...from years spent in the neo-natal unit working on precious preemies to adults young and old while serving as a registered nurse in the critical cardio-care unit. He was so caring and compassionate and truly loved his position in this life. The only part of his job he disliked was telling family members of the passing of a loved-one...which he always did with deep compassion, sorrow and grace. I realized after his passing that there were countless lives he touched during his all to brief career.


I knew early that Chris would never be able to make a career as a mechanic--I realized this the morning after Billy, our three small children and I found him on a desolate Texas highway--towed his truck into a town and finally got to bed at 4:00 a.m. The following morning we were informed that when he "changed his oil" for the trip he had drained every ounce of transmission fluid and added four more quarts of oil to the motor! This is a story our family as told over and over around the dinner table...and laugh every time as though it was being told for the first time!


Chris never enjoyed being in the limelight. Even when he had received his many accolades and awards--mom and daddy would hear of such accomplishments from others as Chris, in his sincere humbleness, never would toot his own horn.


When I think about Chris I always think of the time when my youngest sister, Allison, was about to be born. My sister, RoiLynn, Chris and I went to stay with our grandparents in Bairoil, Wyoming for several weeks. Chris, only a little over 3 1/2 years old at the time, started to cry as we drove off in the Wyoming desert with Grandma and PopPops. PopPops always called Chris "Trit". When we would come upon the many, many herds of antelope along the drive PopPops would say, "Look there, Trit, look how the antelope run when they see ol' Trit coming!" This would make Chris laugh and excited to see the next herd run and run at the sight of ol' Trit.


PopPops then created new lyrics to an old familiar tune that our family continues to sing to this day. To the tune of "Here Comes Santa Claus" he would sing as the antelope ran, "Here comes Trittifer, here comes Trittifer, right down Trittifer lane..." and so on.


PopPops passed into Glory November 1989. I can't help but wonder, when Chris was being greeted and welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven if over the rejoicing and harmonious melodies of the angels there was one man standing tall above the others--boisterously belting out (in a most heavenly way) a resounding rendition of "Here Comes Trittifer."


It's been five years now for those of us still living on this side of heaven...but, for Chris...only but a moment. How I long for and look forward to a great reunion with those who have gone on before me.

I encourage you to give God the glory for each new day he gives to you!