A Thankful Tribute

This photo of Bruce and I was taken at a writer's conference in May 2016. 

I'd just won an award for work that this gentleman, among others, encouraged me to produce. 

I was amazed and more than a little thrilled ... and Bruce was just as excited.

His unselfish character allowed him to genuinely rejoice over the success of his friends.

He passed away this weekend after a courageous battle with cancer.

During his last weeks, many friends and colleagues joined in a card and 

letter-writing campaign to send words of encouragement. 

But I procrastinated—a writer who couldn't come up with the right words when it 

mattered most—and my message didn't reach him in time.

I truly regret that mistake and pray it will leave an eternal mark that will 

press me to speak my heart words in a more timely manner. 

If you're reading this today and you've held important words inside for what 

might be too long ... don't.

Included below is the message I finally penned for Bruce in 

the hope that it will be an appropriate tribute. 

Dear Bruce,

    I know it’s almost Halloween, so if this Thanksgiving card makes you laugh—good! I don’t much like Halloween anyway. A Thanksgiving card is so much more appropriate because you, my friend, are one of the blessings its verse mentions.

  Before I joined Word Weavers, the idea of writing was wriggling around in my heart, often pushed aside by doubt and fear. One Sunday morning, our pastor invited us to ask God any question and wait for an answer. With everyone else, I transcribed a question on a tiny slip of paper. “Am I a writer?” I folded it six or seven times, put it in the basket, and wondered how God would answer; and yes, I wondered if He would answer.

  Not long after that, I contacted Word Weavers and met their tech specialist, Bruce Brady. Through you, He answered my question—YES. Since then, He’s spoken through you (over and over) as you’ve partnered with me in a laughter-laced writing friendship. “Keep writing, girl,” you say, and I hear echoes of His voice.

  Thank you, Bruce, for speaking life to my frail dream and throwing in a great friendship to boot. We have SO many reasons to give thanks. 

Susan