New Church Life March/April 2016 | Page 53

    .     with you every detail of its preparation, meticulously documented. Reade would tell made-up stories to the kids up at Tonche about his buddy, Max, including way-toocomplex details about Max’s vehicles. He told those stories, that is, at least for as long as he could stay awake. More recently, when he’d call someone in the family and leave a voicemail, he’d always be sure to mention the time of the call, “your time,” and where he was in the country – Bryn Athyn, Wyoming or elsewhere – as if to say, “Whenever it is, wherever I am, I’m thinking about you.” When the kids were in college and home on break, he’d top off the washer fluid and check their tire pressure before they’d head back to school. And as they were finding their way in the world as adults, Reade helped all he could in his small, subtle ways and sometimes, when the situation called for it, in take-charge and precisely effective ways. And beyond all this, Reade the most excellent grandpa is a whole new chapter of his story. A close friend observed that Reade and Lynn together were “consummate parents, totally calm, relaxed but in control.” Lynn herself says that she and Reade just always seemed somehow to be in sync, with only a rare exception or two, always agreeing about raising the kids or any other decisions that they would make. Kyle made it a point the other day, as a family meeting was winding down, to say that while Reade may not always have been the most forceful disciplinarian in the household, there was one thing it was clear that he would not allow: no disrespect of Mama. It is countless small examples of love and care like these that all put together build a wonderful family, a wonderful marriage and the wonderful life of a wonderful man. It is these moments of precious love, innocence and peace that the Lord most carefully and most ardently protects. These are what live forever in the spiritual world and in our hearts and minds here. Reade lives in the spiritual world, and we can be lifted up by the hope that we will be with him again and all of these things will still be true of him. All of these things, too, are what make this loss of Reade’s life on earth so sad and difficult to bear. There is no way to minimize it. We can, though, as we carry on with heavy hearts, continue to love and admire Reade. We can offer love and strength to his family and close friends. We can honor his It is countless small examples of love and care like these that all put together build a wonderful family, a wonderful marriage and the wonderful life of a wonderful man. 155