"Tagged"

This last week was a pleasure fishing with Patty on Grenada and Enid lakes in Mississippi. Having Harlie at my feet and watching Patty manning the deck watching the trolling rods is just a perfect day for me. Last Thursday was a hard day to fish Grenada. The 10-15 mph winds felt like 20 plus on some gusts and that was on the upwind side. After two attempts to fish previously located fish on the north side early in the am that ended in frustration, we headed to the south side and hugged the bank. We found a few and was able to fish if we stayed right tight against the shoreline.

After lunch we located a spot with a lot of bait balls and started to catch some fish. One of Pattys poles bent over and after reeling it in, we had a 13 inch Grenada thick slab. While removing the crank bait I noticed a tag implanted on the fish. I was pretty excited about Patty's catch but she seemed unimpressed and was focused back on the poles. She is serious about her crank bait fishing. I hit a waypoint, had Patty snap a pic, and weighed the fish for reporting purposes. We finished the trip with several nice crappie and loaded the boat.

I had forgotten my phone at the cabin and Patty was checking Facebook as we headed back. I was anxious about forgetting my phone, which is unlike me to forget, and wanted her to check on the status on several of our church members whom were sick and in the hospital. Her face fell as she advised me a dear friend had indeed passed. Mr. Gene was one of those guys that lived a Christlike life, regular church attendance, and faithful supporter of all our church activities. He was such a man, as a boy, we wished to grow up to be. He was wise, kind, generous, and a mentor too many. He kept his word and in a world of instability at times, he kept you stable with a single word.

He was also a devoted outdoorsman, hunter, and avid crappie fisherman. We loved talking crappie fishing and he fished the Big Sandy, West Sandy, and Reelfoot areas constantly. I had the pleasure of sharing a few fishing trips with Mr. Gene and he taught me a lot. With a sorrowful heart I sat at his funeral celebration of life this past Monday afternoon. I was missing him already and while uttering prayers for the family in my heart, I heard the pastor say that Mr. Gene left this world and meet his Savior at 02:10pm on that Thursday. I sat for a minute and then dug out my phone and checked the picture of me holding Pattys tagged fish. It was taken after reeling, weighing, and measuring with a time stamp of 02:38pm. I realized that while Patty was reeling in the only tagged fish we have ever, or I myself ever, caught, Mr. Gene was meeting our Lord. In passing it was if he tagged us with a memory that will forever remind us of him.

If you have someone special, especially if they are aging, never miss an opportunity to spend time with them. Even if it is a short phone call. I visited him before we left for our fishing trip and have a wonderful afternoon talking about fishing. We even sent some phone pics updating him on our success the day before he entered the hospital. If you have time, send up a prayer for Mr. Gene's family and a short one for me also. Remember by our daily lives, and our witness, we can tag people with memories long after we too meet our Lord.

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Prayers lifted up for all

Thanks for reminding us that life can get "too busy" if we aren't careful. I often find myself assuming that friends and family are always going to be here. Sounds like your friend was a special person and folks around him were blessed to have known him. Cherish the great memories you and he shared and rest on the truth that you will see him again some day. We will pray for you as well as his other friends and family members.

Great post, may you find comfort in God’s promise of eternal life for the believer. Prayers for all...

Prayers

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Like it says at the bottom of my posts, those we get to sit with are Gods gift. Sorry for your loss and I offer prayers for you and the family.

Great post. Very touching and heartfelt. Thank you for posting. Sorry for your loss.

Thank you for sharing.

my dear friend I hunted with for many moons passed away last month and I am glad I got to chat with him before he went on to meet his maker , my condolences to everyone involved

Sorry for your loss, prayers sent for all.

Prayers sent

Thank you for sharing the great post. Prayers for the church community and for Gene and you.

Thank you
Prayers sent

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Heart felt post praying for you and patty. Sorry for your loss


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