We Can Pray

At the end of last week, I heard some terrible news.  I heard that a local woman, my age (roughly), had died traumatically, leaving behind her four children (2 of them my children's age) and a loving husband who is Allan's age.  You can read more about the tragedy here.

My heart broke for this unknown lady's family.

Then I saw a picture of her family and read a quote from her husband, and my heart broke again. She was no longer unknown.

"Allan."

"What?"

"That family.  It's KC's family."

"Who's KC?" asked Brandon.

"You know, the neighbors down the road. You know, down by Jack the flop-eared dog.  The ones that whenever they're raising a pig, we always stop on our walk and say hi."

Then I prayed.  And I cried.

I cried for the children like they were my own.

I cried for the husband like he was my own.

I cried for her parents, her family, her friends...like they were all my own.

And I thought.  We can't undo what has been done.  We can't take away all the pain.  But we can help out in practical ways.  Ways like mowing the lawn, running to the grocery store, doing laundry, providing meals, cleaning house, watching kids and monetary donations.

We can help out in emotional ways.  We can send them notes of encouragement, give hugs and cheerful smiles. Someone shared this song.  So beautiful.

We can't all help out in the ways listed above, but there is one thing I know we all can do.

We can pray.

We can pray that they would feel God's love wrapped around them.  We can pray for strength.  We can pray for healing.  And we can thank Him in prayer for the beautiful gift Jana was to their family and her love for Jesus and others.

Please pray for the Carlson family.