Trevor Michael Bailey

16 years ago, May 27th of 1996, my life and the lives of everyone in the Bailey family changed. My brother, Trevor Michael Bailey, went home to be with the Lord after a tragic accident late on Memorial Day. He was only 16 years old. Trevor was an incredible young man. He was in love with the Lord, loved his friends, loved football and was developing a love for the game of basketball. He was smart and was already developing strong leadership abilities. Trevor was also a typical 16-year-old working through typical 16-year-old issues and struggles. But at the end of every day, and I probably witness this more than anyone else, Trevor was just a normal human being and great friend. Trevor and I used to sit and talk at the end of every day. We would talk about life, family, football, and other young man topics. Trevor was a naturally curious person. Always wondering about life and God and people. His questions would always lead our conversations to fun and interesting places. Then he would break out is some sort of goofball mood and we would joke about anything we could think of. I’ll always remember our playful “put down” discussions. We’d playfully make fun of each other and make each other laugh. Trevor loved to laugh. When he and his friends got together that is all they did. It made me laugh just being around them. Even if I had no clue what it was that was making them all laugh. For all I know, I was the reason they were laughing. But I couldn’t help myself. He was infectious that way. Trevor loved the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbs”. He would always read them to me and there was one in particular that we would always crackup over. I used to say he chewed like a cow and so he cut one out that he found in the newspaper that showed one of the characters chewing like a cow. I still giggle to myself thinking of that. Trevor has now been gone for as long as he was alive. Actually, the official day that that occurs is not until November 2, 2012, 5 months and 6 days from now. But none-the-less, it is a strange day. I miss him dearly. He was with me during all of life’s hard times and we laughed all the way through them. My wife says I never cry. But if there is something that brings tears to my eyes it is the memory of my little brother. I’m not sure why he is gone but I am sure he is making Jesus and the angels laugh. There is probably some comic strip in the “Daily Heaven Times Newspaper” that has his attention and he is constantly showing them to Michael and Gabriel. When that is not happening he is probably beating Moses in a game of Chess (I’m not sure he ever lost at that game). Or he is shooting deep 3-pointers over Abraham in a game of basketball (that reminds me, darn kid was taller than me when he went home). I miss my brother as I know the rest of the Bailey family does. There are so many memories we didn’t get to have. So many conversations we never got to participate in. And I am pretty sure that he would have competed with me in who would have more children. That’s a number of nieces and nephews, grandchildren and cousins that the rest of the Bailey’s never got to meet. Not to mention a sister/daughter-in-law we never got to know. But we are not defeated in his passing so early. What Satan meant for harm God has turned into good. Satan comes to kill, steel and destroy but Jesus came to give us life and life to the full! We anticipate the day we will see him again. After giving Jesus a 300 year hug I will look for Trevor and give him a 300 year piggyback ride (inside joke – he knows what I am talking about). Until then I will wait and remember. I am also glad that God fixed that horrible Memorial Day when a life was lost. He changed my memory of Memorial Day by giving me a son. Joshua Gabriel Bailey was born on Memorial Day 2004, 8 years later. Though the date is different (Joshua was born on the 31st) the day was the same. God is great like that. He knows how to redeem everything. Trevor, if you can read blogs from Heaven, know that we miss you, we thank God that we had 16 years with you and we are looking forward to spending eternity with you. While you wait for us, eating with Jesus at the dinner table, do me a favor…chew with your mouth closed you goofball. Love you Bro!! Thank you Father for giving us Trevor even for the short time we had him! Love you Lord! Be glorified!