In the very very early days when Bill and I first arrived home from the hospital, a billow of friends hovered close by either through their small group prayers or by phone, text, even curbside. I use the word billow because they formed a cloud, a puffy all-covering cloud, shading us from immediate reality and cooling us from pain. Billow pillow willow. Our friends and family both propped and draped us with love.

Enough cannot be said about support for a couple in shock. And I have so much to say about it. Not a gesture or word landed on us without imparting the sincere heart behind it. We received even shallow or perhaps inappropriate offerings knowing that we were in someone’s thoughts. That was huge! Nothing aroused the slightest tweak because people were extending care. And almost every deed met an exact need. Care was exactly what we needed.

Here I am, a year later. The calls are less frequent. I imagine the prayers are as well. Life moves on, and there are other unexpected tragedies to attend to. And, please! Attend to them. I know the blessing that accompanies care. At the same time, though I have walked down the road a bit, I am hurting. Every now and then, like this very morning, a friend from my wealthy friend-bank calls me. The conversation includes catching me up on news or sharing faith. But I know, prompted by my heavenly Father, it is meant to check on me and communicate sweet care. Wild how I find myself giggling and swallowing the rock-in-my-throat at the same time — a sign that the call meets a need. Crazy how the calls come, not all at once, but just in time. God.

To all of you who have dropped everything just to share some care, and especially to my family who checks on me daily, thank you so much. I never knew the truest value of friendship. I know it now. I know it down deep.