Hello everyone.
I wanted to take the time to tell you a little about my late husband, Jeff. **I talk about him in my book and he also wrote a book about his life prior to his deathin 2012-2013. This picture was taken in the Fall of 2010 outside of Hot Spring, Arkansas about 4 years before his death. This is one of my favorites.
Jeff was a police officers for 17 years before he retired and started working for OKC 911 dispatch. He loved to travel and take pictures. He loved to ride his motorcylce (with me of course) and he loved the Lord. He also loved to buy me things and make me smile. He wanted me to be happy and when I was happy, he was happy. This was his way of loving me and he did do his best to love me well.
Jeff was a good man deep down, yet he was also a very troubled man, troubled from an early age. At the time, I had no idea how troubled. I'm not sure he even understood himself. Growing up, I was taught to love people for who they were, not to look at their troubles and turn my back on them. I loved him for who he was and that was not easy.
Looking back now, I can honestly say I was glad to have had the opportunity to love this man. I am thankful for that gift now and everyday. And although he chose to end his life in 2014, I have no doubt I was loved the best way he knew how. I am thankful for all the good times and all the good memories. I know he is in Heaven wanting the best for me now.
As I have closed these chapters in my life and look forward to my life ahead, I will always remember my riding buddy, my shopping buddy and my friend. I look forward to seeing him again someday - whole, healthy, happy and strong.
I would ask you to be thankful for the people God gives you to love in this life. We never know about our tomorrow or theirs. We never know what pain they may be hiding or how much our love can help them heal; or even keep them alive.
1 Corinthians 1:13; "And now there remain: faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
Love has already won.
Thankful always,
Elizabeth
**For Jeff's story, please see his book My Second Chance by Jeff Billingsley. You can find it on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble in paperback and digitial formats.
**For my story please see my book The Road Less Traveled: A Story of Love, Hope, Pain and Everything In Between by Elizabeth Billingsley. You can find it on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Audible.com and Itunes, and Kobo.com or the Kobo app. Paperback, digital and audio formats are available.