This week, our neighborhood lost the association of a very good man, Theron. When we moved into this neighborhood seven years ago, Eric was able to go on a church experience known as Trek. While there, he met Theron. They developed a very close bond, and over the years, Eric and Theron became just like brothers in many ways. Theron, a man busy raising his own family, would make time to talk to Eric, keep up on his life, have Eric come over to hang out, and go with him on splits with the missionaries. It was a relationship Eric needed at that time in his life, and I believe Theron was one reason that Eric became such a successful missionary himself.
As Eric left on his mission, Theron turned his attention to Jon. Jon lives in a world filled with women, his mother, his sister, all of their friends, most of Jon's teachers... Theron became a mentor and a father figure in Jon's life. He spent countless hours with Jon, making things, playing games, watching movies, just spending time talking to a young man who needed a male influence in his life. There was such a strong love between Theron and Jon, the type of bond Jon needed so very much. Theron once wrote Jon a letter expressing his feeling that he had known Jon and our entire family in the pre-existence. I believe with all of my soul that this is true. I am so blessed to have had Theron in lives of my sons. I know they are better men for his influence, and for that I am so grateful. Theron will be missed.
