Friday was the third anniversary of my brother’s first day in Heaven. I miss him so much, but this year I was in the throes of planning our daughter’s baby shower. I had no time to grieve or cry…until today.

In 2020 Billy had just retired from a compound pharmacy where I had my prescriptions filled. He loved his job and had given me a tour of the compounding lab where he worked. It was obvious how much his co-workers loved him. He had a contagious sense of humor that would make you laugh even when you didn’t want to. He said it was a gift.

Anyway, today I had to pick up an Rx from this pharmacy which is always emotional for me. I wasn’t expecting what would happen next!

The sign on the door said, “We’ve moved!

The shoe-shiner who has had a chair in front of this pharmacy for as long as I can remember told me they moved to the compounding lab around the corner. When I mentioned I knew where that was, he seemed surprised. I explained my brother worked there as a compounding pharmacist until he retired.

He asked the obvious, “Who’s your brother?”

“Bill Gray.”

With a smile a mile wide he said, “Chill Bill?He’s your brother?”

I said he was but sadly he died three years ago from Covid. He had only been retired 9 months.

“Oh, I didn’t know!” He continued to say how sad he didn’t get to enjoy life.

I told him how much Billy loved Heaven and now he was there having the ultimate retirement. It is a promise reserved for those who love and follow Jesus.

This kind man nodding with a knowing reassurance, “He’s better off than we are, ain’t he!”

With tears I turned away realizing afresh how much my brother impacted everyone who knew him.

Chill Bill – I miss you.