Goodbye, George

George Bentley has been called home to his Heavenly Father.

I never met George in person, although I did speak to him on the phone a few times, and we have exchanged a number of emails over the last few years. I can’t say that I knew him well, but I miss him and I am profoundly saddened by his passing. I mourn with his family.

George was my publisher. He and his wife, Beth, gave my books a chance, and for that I will be forever grateful. I am blessed to have known him at all.

George has been in very poor health for as long as I’ve known him. Three years ago, his family was summoned to the hospital to say goodbye, because George wasn’t expected to last the day.

But through the grace of God, George was given three more years to bless the lives of his family, friends, and others (like myself) whose lives he enriched.

Now George has been reunited with other members of his family and other loved ones who preceded him into the embrace of a loving Father in Heaven. In time, he will be reunited with all of his loved ones beyond this veil of tears.

Someday, I will get to meet him in person.

I mourn his passing, but I am happy for him as well.

In the words of the old spiritual:

I’m runnin’ on!

I done left this world behind.

I done crossed the separatin’ line.

And I left this world behind.

So free!

I done left this world behind.

I done crossed the separatin’ line.

And I left this world behind.

Ain’t ya glad?