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
Dear Kathy – I’ll be praying for Emily as well. My heart hurts for her. ~Yvonne
Kathy,
I’m so sorry to hear this news. I’m glad your group was there for her.
We will be sure to pray for Emily also, Kathy! We will pray that you will be able to minister to her and comfort her in some way! May God be with her in these days of mourning..
At times like this, I don’t know what to say — I feel as though anything I could say would sound so trite. The only thing I know how to do is to turn to scripture, which (we are promised) doesn’t return void and is (I think) never trite:
May our God be with Emily in this night of weeping, and may He sustain her until He redeems His promises.
Oh, Kathy! I hate crying so early in the morning, but this is so heartbreaking. And yet God was so obviously at work through all of you, too. I’ll be praying for Emily.
Kathy and Tim,
How very sad. Please let me know if there is anything I can help with…if she’s not connected with other military wives I’d be willing to call her and see if I can help in some way.
Hey Kathy,
I’m still so grieved for Sweet Emily. We have been praying for her since the tragic news. During our family prayers Emma asked for peace and comfort for Mrs. H….
I’m so thankful that God planted them in your small group. Tim’s right…everything that I want to type seems so trite right now. But I DO know that God will sustain her. I’m thankful that we have a savior who understands grief. He wept at the loss of Lazarus … as we weep at the loss of Jason. We don’t grieve as those who have no hope (1 thes 4:13). Our hope is built on Jesus….
Thank you Father that you love us beyond measure and that you have and will be faithful forever to us. Be with Emily…allow her to be flooded with the comfort of your presence – through your Spirit and through the body. May your mercies, peace and goodness wash over her. Cause those who are in the body to draw near to her and encourage her and hold her up when she might feel like falling. Help us to be as Aaron and Hur were to Moses. When he grew weary, they helped him to keep his arms raised, so that the victory would be theirs. Father, we ask for you to be the victor in this…not the enemy. We love you Lord…In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Dear Tim & Kathy: Yesterday morning, Chaplain Mitera came to me right after Sunday School and asked if I could fill in for him in Chapel. He had to make a death notification and told me it was a soldier from Fort Lewis. I don’t know whether he was the one who notified Emily, but during our chapel prayer time we prayed that Mark would have the right words to say to comfort the family member(s). It is particularly hard when we lose someone close to us. We feel for all those who lose loved ones, but it is very up-close and personal when it happens in our own group. Mom’s and my (Our) prayers are with Emily. May the God of all comfort be very close to her in the days ahead – and may your small group minister to her. Dad
Kathy how painful for your group and tragic for Emily herself. I just prayed for her.
Dorothy
Kathy and Tim, I am so sorry for your loss and for dear Emily. What a terrible tragedy. As a military wife, this hits especially hard.
It sounds like she has a wonderful group of Godly people that will surround her with God’s love.
Praying for her in the days ahead.
Thank you, everyone, for all your prayers and kind words for Emily. I am feeling sad and weepy today. I can’t even imagine how she is feeling. The thought of waking up and realizing your husband is dead just seems overwhelming.
Keep Praying! This will surely be a hard week/month/year for this young wife!
So sorry to hear of the loss within your group. That’s so sad. Last year a man who had attended the Tae Kwon Do studio our kids went to died in the war. It is always sad but somehow even sadder when it hits close to home. I can’t imagine how his wife is feeling now.
This is so terribly sad. Emily and the rest of Jason’s family are in my prayers.
So sorry, Kath. Will pray for all.
So sorry, Kathy. I’m praying for Emily and for you and your group as you minister God’s comfort to her.
I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said. I’m crying for her now. My prayers will be going out as well.