Good Friday, April 18, 2025

Assurance

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

On March 1st of last year my 30-year-old nephew died in a car accident, leaving behind a wife and three young children. It was a tragedy our family struggled to understand and accept. Dillon was a caring young man with a deep faith. My sister and brother-in-law, his parents, were devastated. 

Dillon managed Caberfae Ski Resort in northern Michigan and was a beloved employee. The owners offered the ski lodge with dinner afterwards for his memorial service as a gift to the family. They gave his family a lifetime family pass for skiing, a sport they all love. This alone spoke to his impact. At such a young age, Dillon left a legacy of love. Hundreds of people packed the lodge and we heard about his kindness and sweet personality. A friend created decals with the quote “I appreciate you” on each, with his name, date of birth and passing – his common response for thanking someone. Over and over people shared how Dillon had impacted their lives. 

While we never want to be in a heartbreaking situation like this, what comes from such a loss is the gathering of people who share memories, talk about the love, and pull together to support one another. We hear stories we might never have heard. We tell each other how much we care. We are grateful for the moments we are sharing together.

What are we to take from this? How do we make these horrific life experiences less painful? Knowing God is truly with us, walking the path as we grieve and begin to heal, brings comfort. Committing to tell those we love how much they mean to us brings us a little peace. And finally, while the work of grieving and healing is never over, we can continue to tell the stories of love, appreciation, and remembrance so that the impact of this young man’s life continues to be present in our daily lives. Isn’t that our challenge as followers of Jesus? We trust when it isn’t clear what we are to trust. We follow His word when we are still seeking to understand. And we know that amid all the immense sorrow, God is good. He leads us through these times of sorrow and sadness with the assurance that life with Him is everlasting.

Marcia Wright