Today we began a new study in our Sunday School class. We looked at chapter one of II Corinthians. We discussed these verses for a long time:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
We talked about what it means to suffer, how it is that God comforts us, how God uses our suffering to comfort others, and what it looks like to bring God’s compassion to those who are suffering around us.
It was an excellent class with lots of thought-provoking conversation. Who knew it would be such an appropriate passage? I guess the Lord knew, as He was the one who very obviously led us to this passage this morning.
I was working on a marriage questionnaire, this afternoon, for our Love and Respect Small Group when we got a phone call. It was one of the members of our group. I immediately began to fret because I really wanted everyone to be there tonight. Tim and I had planned a special time of discussion for the couples and I didn’t want anyone to miss it.
I never expected it would be something far worse than a sick child. I looked at Tim’s face during the call and knew it was something serious.
“Jason is dead,” he said while holding the phone.
WHAT???? We have two Jason’s in our group. They are both active duty military. One is serving in Afghanistan, the other in Iraq. NOOOOOOO!!!
It was Jason H. in Iraq.
“Are they sure? Maybe they made a mistake,” I immediately insisted. Tim shook his head and gestured for me to wait. Finally he got off the phone. There had been a car bomb in Iraq and 6 soldiers had been killed, one of whom was a young man from our Small Group. He and his wife, Emily, had only been married a few weeks when they came to our church. They visited our Sunday School class and were instantly adopted by our Small Group. Five months after they had been married, Jason was deployed. He came home in September for a few weeks of leave and returned to Iraq. Recently we learned that his tour of duty there was extended until November.
Emily was in my cabin at the Women’s Retreat. In the middle of the retreat Jason called and told her they could use his extended bonus pay to go for a honeymoon. She spent a good part of the retreat dreaming about places they could go to celebrate their marriage.
Now she is left with shattered dreams.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Tim and I prayed for Emily as soon as we hung up the phone. Or rather, Tim prayed as I couldn’t even find words to pray. I let Tim pray for me and cried out in my spirit for Emily and her pain and suffering. An hour and a half after the time we heard the news, all the women in our Small Group had gathered in Emily’s apartment and were there crying and (somewhat strangely) laughing with her. We passed around tissue boxes, hugged Emily, talked about Jason, looked over wedding pictures, and finally, when the pastor and his wife came, prayed over Emily.
My heart breaks for Emily. There are no words I can give her that will ease her pain. We spent much of the time sitting with her in silence, tears running down our cheeks.
Dear Lord,
Please uphold this dear sister. Wrap your arms around her. Let her feel Your presence so keenly and firmly that she knows her tears are wiped away by Your loving hand.
Thank You for the people who love Emily, who rush to be by her side and who know true comfort comes from You. Let Emily rest in You, walk with You, and know You will catch her when she falls.
Give those of us who are called to be beside Emily during this tragedy wisdom and grace and compassion. Fill our mouths with words of comfort. Lord, when we don’t know what to say, intercede for us. May your Spirit speak for us and comfort Emily. Thank you, Father.
Kathy
