I have just endured one of the most grueling weeks of my life. It was quite a shock when I learned early Friday, Aug. 26, that my “little” brother Richard had died.

Another blow came about a half hour later when the coroner called and informed me I was listed as next of kin and I realized I’d be responsible for making arrangements. So I’ve been running in circles and suffering a few sleep-deprived nights recently.

Richard will be greatly missed. He was a special person and a wonderful brother, just an allaround good guy. He had one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known. Unfortunately, his physical heart gave out, but I have no doubt the loving, generous heart he was known for will continue beatingthroughout eternity.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a tells us, “For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under the heavens: a time for birth and a time to die.” So I suppose it must have been his time.

My little brother was sort of an ornery kid and got in a few scrapes in his younger days. Most of his cousins can tell vivid tales relating how he got them in trouble, climbing trees they weren’t supposed to climb, placing pennies on the railroad track, engaging in rock fights, and thelike. He wasn’t too fond of school at first. He just got up and walked out of his first grade classroom when he tired of sitting still. Later in life he recognized the value of an education, enrolled in college courses and did a lot of reading and studying in an effort to improve himself.

I’ve often accused him of never really growing up, of always being a child at heart, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. It was always a joy seeing him down on the floor at family gatherings, helping assemble a new toy or playing a game with the youngsters, racing around the house, or going out to toss a ball.He was always fond of children and treated his stepchildren as if they were his own. He loved preparing lessons for children’s church and working with the youth in Royal Rangers.

Richard had a knack for making friends, and he nurtured his friendships. He was the ideal example of the old admonition, “To have a friend, be one.” He would do anything for anybody, bent over backwards to help anyone who needed it.

Someone said at his funeral service, “He would give you the shirt off his back even though he knew he didn’t have another one.”

He was a proud Navyveteran and loved to relate tales of his days in the service. That was surpassed though by his love for his church, where he worked diligently doing whatever needed to be done, driving the church bus, videotaping Sunday services or helping the needy who came to the food bank. He became a Christian at a young age, and that experience transformed his life. He did his best to live his life according to the principles outlined in the Bible and strived to be an example for others.

I think one of Richard’s greatest assets was his eternal optimism. He had a way of putting a positive spin on any situation. No matter how low he might be physically, financially or otherwise, he never let it dampen his hopes and dreams. He continuedto plan and prepare for better times, and his enthusiasm was contagious. He drew people to him to improve his life and help make the world a better place.

My unexpected loss has brought home to me even more clearly how precious are our relationships with family and friends. We should treasure time spent with our loved ones and tell them often how much they mean to us for we never know how long we’ll have the opportunity to do that. Share a hug or a word of praise without waiting for a special occasion, give a compliment or a reassuring pat on the back. You won’t regret it.

Susan Holland, who works for the Westside Eagle Observer, is a lifelong Benton County resident.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 09/07/2011