This week’s been a rough one in our church family, as we’ve lost two of our members. The first, Tricia, was a gal that I didn’t know personally; my heart still hurts deeply for the family, the kids, and friends she left behind. Yesterday, I got a solid punch in the emotional gut when I learned that Gray had passed away.

I read a book in college, I think for intro to psychology? Was that a thing at SCAD? Or did I take a sociology class? I can’t remember the class, or even what the book was called, but it talked about love. And how loving someone involves risk. I remember it talked about the different risks involved with loving someone; one of those being the risk of loss.

When you love someone, you risk the pain of losing them. And loving them, you’re making the decision that that person is worth the risk.

I’ve been completely bummed out about Gray’s passing.

When I met him and asked his name shortly after we started going to Living Faith, he told me he didn’t have a name, he had a color. And he never called me Steph; he was in the same Sunday school class as my mom in law Carole, so he always, always called me Daughter in Law with a smile on his face.

His health hadn’t been what it once was, and we’ve been praying for healing for him for a while. I know Tricia and Gray are both in a better place. It doesn’t make the news any easier to take.

I feel so fortunate to have this close knit church family that we’re a part of today. The risk of loss is way worth it, guys. I heart you.