Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one
can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
– Ecclestiastes 4:9-10
Have you ever felt unwelcome, misunderstood, or bullied? Have you ever felt victimized, mocked, or exploited?
Maybe, you’ve had a health scare or lost a loved one. Unfortunately, I have experienced all of these feelings.
Despite wonderful parents and a loving family, these experiences can still lead to unbearable loneliness and
isolation.
I ultimately came out of the darkness and into the light thanks to my family, friends, and faith reminding me I
am never alone. As the youngest of four, I was given a front-row seat in seeing the importance of faith and
prayer. I understood at a very early age how we are all connected by our faith through prayer and to lean into
God during the worst times.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. – John 13:35
This verse has always had special meaning. When my wife and I lost our son, Connor, during a difficult surgery
when he was an infant, I felt very alone and somewhat isolated. I was there for my wife and two daughters, but
we grieved differently and had deep lows at different times. After the shock and well into our grieving process,
we met a couple who had also lost a young child. Their daughter died about a year before Connor. They invited us
to their home and were so gracious and vulnerable and it was such an impactful evening. They were incredible
listeners, very loving, and sympathetic with many helpful observations. I was profoundly touched that in bearing
this unspeakable tragedy, I was again reminded we were not alone.
That night, we started to find our purpose—our real WHY!
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according
to his purpose… He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along
with him, graciously give us all things? – Romans 8:28, 32
We have gone on to help many other families in the same situation and have served in many capacities at St. Louis
Children’s Hospital. We think and pray for Connor every day and are fortified by the close-knit, loving, and
serving unit of our shared experiences.
They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
The words from this hymn also remind me of another place I’ve found for shared experiences: my BBT Bible study
group.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
God has blessed me beyond anything of this world. I am so fortunate and thankful that my Bible study group has
given me the epiphany through our shared readings, study and truly living The Word! BBT has energized me in ways
I could never have imagined.
Do you belong to a
community that studies the Bible and energizes you to apply it to your life?