"What are we going to do?"

"What are we going to do? What are we going to do?"

These words poured out of the heart of a sweet, young 39-year-old whose mother died of an apparent heart attack in her sleep last night. This mother was the caregiver for her chronically-ill husband who got out of the hospital the day before ("He was supposed to go first," she said, "That's what we prepared for."). This mother also helped this young mom with her childcare: picking up, dropping off, and filling in in between. Not to mention that this mother was the one who handled Thanksgiving dinner for 30 people most years.

"What are we going to do?"

The agony was so raw, her heart so broken. Her husband stayed nearby, wrangling their 8-year-old and 2-year-old kids, unsure of how to comfort, wanting to protect. The kids, obviously comfortable at their grandparents' home, bounced from activity to activity, looking for attention and distraction.

I wanted to tell her it would be okay. That one day it would hurt less. That truly the pieces will come together. That she will find the answers she's looking for. But I couldn't tell her all that tonight. It wouldn't make sense and would sound like empty promises. Really, these are things she needs to discover for herself ... and I believe she will. One day.

Lord, I pray for Alicia tonight, that she would be able to rest ... that the worries coming at her 90-to-nothing would be calmed and she would begin to remember that you are in control and that you have for her "a future and a hope." I pray that you would surround her with people speaking Your truth into her heart and mind and, if it is mostly Allen and me, that we would know when to be present. Oh, Lord, that she would not be overcome with despair but that she would answer despair with your promises ... that we don't grieve as those who have no hope ... that you are her strength and comfort and peace ... that you hold tomorrow ... that weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning. Oh, that Your word would be real and right and true to her in her grief and that she would cling to YOU! Thank you for the friends that dropped everything and drove over to stay with her and her family for a few days. Thank you for her mom's church family that has already stepped in and stepped up. Thank you for being the answer to her hardest questions, including "What are we going to do?"