The worst years of our lives were 2013 and 2014. Losing four loved ones unexpectedly caused extreme trauma for our family.

We lost our nephew Justin on May 15th, 2013. Winter came and was especially long, hard, and cold. Losing Granny in December, Jake in March, and Mom in May just added to the pain.

A year to the day of our nephew’s death, May 15th, 2014, we put to rest three family members in one day at the Thompsonville Cemetery.

Grief is hard. Compounded grief is especially hard.

Our community could not have been kinder and more compassionate to us that year. In our musty basement, there is a hope chest full of condolence cards from some of you evidencing that love.

Enduring grief and church together are both wonderful and painful at the same time. We needed the church, but it wasn’t easy to attend.

There are few Sundays in life more memorable and encouraging for me than one Sunday after our son died.

Jerry Brace, an older beloved man of the church, walked down the aisle towards me. He reached his unusually large hand out to me, taking mine with tears in his eyes, and said something I will always remember him by.

“Mike, I’m praying for you.”

This sunk deep within me. I don’t remember the sermon or anything else about that day, but I will always remember Jerry – his love, his sincere care, and his covering prayer over my family and me.

Why does this stand out among all the well wishes during those difficult days? I think it’s because it happened naturally in our church gathering where we, of all places, are to love on another and pray for one another with sincere love.

Jerry gave me something that day that God knew I needed. His affirming love poured over me through a kind old saint. I want to be like Jerry. How about you?

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” Colossians 3:12-14.