A Tribute to Tom Barrett - a Believer, a Patriot, and a Brother and Friend...

Tom was my brother and my friend. Yes, he was a “doctor.” Dr. Tom - la-ti-da! I think he enjoyed having the title in the sense of his accomplishment, but with me, he did not seem to flaunt it at all. As he himself said, he was very proud of how humble he was.

Though I never met Tom, and really didn't know him all that well, he became one of my closest and dearest life-long friends. We had a bond in the Spirit of God that transcended the space and facts of never having met. We could talk about life as if we had known each other forever, as the best of friends. 

We shared a sincere love of God through our common Lord Jesus, and it was the basis of our friendship. Tom loved God, and he loved the life that came directly from our Lord and Creator, a precious, indescribable, undefinable gift of consciousness, awareness, and being. 

Tom's passing hits me hard, really hard. It is as if my own brother has died. I cried numerous times the day I found out, while doing my “day job.” It reminds me of numerous other close friends and family with whom I will never speak again - Jerry, Al, Steve, mom, dad, grandparents. They are gone. No more stories and reminiscing. 

Tom dearly loved his wife Ana, and their daughter Sarah. I could tell by just how he always spoke of them, treasuring their time together, and valuing their love as life itself.  

Our common shared heart concerning the founding and shaping of our country also played a deep part of this friendship. Tom was a believing Christian first, and yet his faith was tied deeply and directly in with a sincere love of our country - the United States - represented in the founding documents and respective hearts of the founders of this country. 

Though he might downplay his own value in a humble way, Tom shared his beliefs with his family, his church family, his friends, and his clients and customers. But he didn’t seem to look for a reward or a deserved blessing. It was his honor and privilege to do what he did in life. And he kept busy, oh, so busy!

As a result of his faith and faithfulness, I trust that the Lord Jesus has greeted Tom with a fond hug and a whispered affirmation of “Well done, my faithful servant. Enter into My rest…” 

And a question that has now been answered for Tom is this: 

For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. - 1 Corinthians 15.54-58