This morning I am sitting in a broken space.

I woke up to learn two friend’s had loved ones pass on yesterday, one, a child to cancer and the other, a parent to COVID.

With this sad news I find myself brokenhearted beside them...

and I want to fix it.

I want to do something, or say something, to make it better for them...

but I can’t.

I can’t make it better.

So instead I sit here in my home, as they sit in theirs, and I will share in their grief and sadness.

Why?

Because this is what love does.

Love doesn’t push and it doesn’t pull. Love never leaves you alone, or leaves you to do it on your own. Love comes beside you, and me, and says, let me love you here, where you are; let me feel some of what you feel so I can better understand your heart, and we won’t move forward until you are ready to.

I share this with you today because we’ve all been faced with this moment, where people we love are hurting and out of our love for them, we want to say and/or do something to try and make it better; somehow in someway. Yet the hard truth is there are some things we can’t make better, except to let them know they are loved, and are not alone.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we follow Jesus’ example of love and be willing to come beside one another in the tough times. May we sit beside one another, and take on each other’s hurts and love each other there. May we be...

Be present, and listen.
Be sad and broken-hearted.
Be prayerful.
Be love.

And when our loved ones let us know what they need, may we become love in action.

Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you🙏

With love and hope,
Shawn

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:18

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” - Matthew 11:28-29

“God is love and love is God.” - 1 John 4:8