Thoughts and Prayers

Beneath the Conoco sign of a local gas station is a marquee that reads:

"Thoughts and prayers for the Campbell's"

The Campbell family suffered a great loss this week when their older son was killed in a horrible accident, leaving his brother to live the rest of his days as an only child...and his parents with the unanswerable question of "Why?"

There was an outpouring of sympathy; friends and family gathered at the home with food, prayers and love. The church was overflowing with a community who suffers alongside of them.

When my mother-in-law died of cancer, there was much solace from friends and neighbors who grieved with us. It was not just our loss, but a loss for the entire community. And so it is for every small town. We are not just mail carriers, salesmen, firefighters, teachers. We know each other and share history, some good and some not so good. But when someone in the community leaves this world for the next, it is with shared sorrow and heartfelt condolences because it isn't just 'someone else', but a neighbor, friend, brother, sister.

May the thoughts we have for this family bring them comfort, and may our prayers for their peace be answered.