Kenny posted one of these, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t as well.

Will and I had been friends for half his life (nearly). We celebrated our 10th year as friends just this year, and it was great to look back on the memories, laugh at them and laugh at each other.

Nobody could laugh as often or as well as Will could. He was a really good laugher. He was a really good lot of things. Friend, supporter, playmate, child of God, worshipper, intercessor… Each of these is more than a simple word to me. In each of these roles he played I have vivid and profound memories of him, his personality, his love and his love for life.

Will loved more, loved more often and loved better than anyone else I ever knew.

He had a childlike quality about him which I will miss almost more than anything else, and that childlikeness is one of the things that helped him to love so, so well.

He loved God with all his heart. Sometimes it took me aback how much he loved Him (and how much He loved him, to be honest). Sometimes it even offended me. To see someone going after God so hard, when I’m having such a hard time doing just that, can sometimes be offensive.

Will, I’m sorry I was offended.

Will also loved me, exactly as I was. I have a lot of faults. A lot of weird habits. And an awful sense of humour. Will loved all of it, often laughing at me “being Jer”, but he did it in a really, really good way.

[note to Will: This is the point where I just completely lost it. I'm not sure I've ever cried so hard in my entire life. "Cried" doesn't even begin to describe it. I love you bud.]

Will, I am going to miss you on so many levels. I never really knew what “grieving” was until a few minutes ago. I, selfishly, grieve the loss of you in my life. I grieve the loss of every future memory. I grieve that you won’t get married and be an amazing husband, and that you won’t have children who you will teach to love the world as you do.

I grieve for your family. I can’t even imagine what they are going through. Megan, Mel, Alda, William Sr. I’m so, so, so sorry. Your family more than any other did not deserve this. Nobody deserves to suffer through cancer and then the death of someone so young and so good. But your family least of all.

The one great thing about all of this, is that there is absolutely no doubt in my mind where Will is. He loved God so completely that I’m sure there’s a huge party going on right now. And Will, you deserve it. You deserve every gift the world has to give.

Sadly, the only gift I can give you now is my love and my life. I’ll do my best to live for both of us. Because that’s the least you deserve.

I was so hurting inside yesterday that I just needed to do something. So, in memory of you I played volleyball last night for the first time in ages. Jake came as well. We played on the same team and had an incredible, incredible amount of fun. We, quite seriously, kicked ass.

I wished you were there.

I know that there will be thousands of times throughout my life when I wish you were there to enjoy the moment with me.

I’m sorry I won’t get to take you to Vegas this year. I know it was one of your dreams. Just to soak it all in and have a great time with me and whoever else would come along.

Maybe I’ll do it anyways. But if I do, it’ll be for you.

I love you so much. And that will never stop.

See you soon buddy. Give God a hug for me.