Austin's Blog

Valerie and I wanted to take a moment to list all the ways the Body of Christ served us through the passing of our sweet Gabriel. When we have our relationship restored to God through the grace of Jesus Christ, we aren’t just put in right relationship with Him. We are put in right relationship with His children. We become family. Please read how our family was served during the deepest and darkest valley we have ever known.

• My pastor dropped everything he was doing and rushed there.
• I called a sister and she went to Valerie’s side since I could not go myself.
• Two sisters came over to immediately tend to Addie and keep her for the night.
• The church immediately began praying. We received countless calls and texts.
• Two brothers came and got me ready for the hospital and drove me to the emergency room.
• A sister stayed by Gabriel during his seizures and even when his breathing and heart stopped. He would not be alone in this moment. She stayed at the direst moment and briefly sent his momma away because she should not have to see her child’s heart stop. She stayed.
• Countless people sent money so we wouldn’t have to worry about medical bills and other expenses.
• A sister drove us from the emergency room to the hospital.
• Food poured in at the hospital and after.
• Brothers and sisters met at the church and prayed for hours for his healing.
• Some brothers and sisters came and helped us decorate Gabe’s PICU room for his birthday.
• A sister brought the nurses and doctors a king cake in honor of Gabe’s birthday.
• Two sisters brought two bags full of everything you could possibly need for a stay at the hospital. We were ready for the long haul.
• Two sisters updated everyone so we wouldn’t have to write out those messages.
• Countless brothers and sisters came and prayed over Gabe and filled the chapel downstairs for days praying for him and us.
• The children and youth at church wrote birthday cards for Gabe that were delivered to us.
• My pastor moved his work downstairs and said, “This is my new office for the foreseeable future. I’m here with you until the end. I love you.”
• Addie stayed at our pastor’s house all week with her best friends and was taken care of the whole time.
• So many brothers and sisters came and said their goodbyes to Gabe before he left and prayed with us before that holy and bittersweet moment.
• Our family and a host of brothers and sisters packed up the PICU room after Jesus lovingly took Gabe home to himself so we wouldn’t have to pack it up ourselves.
• A couple purchased the hotel we stayed at the night Gabe passed so we wouldn’t have to immediately go home.
• A sister brought us to the hotel that night so we wouldn’t have to drive ourselves.
• A brother brought all our belongings to the hotel for us.
• The whole Sunday service including the sermon was changed to reflect the deep grief we and all of us felt. We lamented today.
• So many brothers and sisters held us and cried at church. Men, some of the strongest men I know, held me and wept for me.
• A sister offered counseling to help Addie process and work through her grief free of cost.
• Brothers and sister opened their homes so our family would have a place to stay but not all be here so we wouldn’t be overwhelmed. Some even purchased stays at hotels for them.
• Our pastors came with us to the funeral home to help us plan all the arrangements and make those awful yet necessary decisions.
• We’ve sat on so many couches lately with brothers and sisters who listen to us, weep with us, pray with us, and comfort us.
• We received so many wonderful gifts in the mail that have honored Gabe and comforted us in our immense grief.
• Our pastor and closest friends helped plan and do the funeral.
• Brothers and sisters came from all over the country to celebrate our sweet boy.
• Families have had us over for dinner. We still get calls, texts, and invitations.

I’m certain we have overlooked many of the ways we were loved, served, encouraged, comforted, and held since that dreadful time. Only Heaven will reveal the glories of it.

When I could not carry my boy, someone else did. When we couldn’t carry ourselves, the Lord carried us through others. This is why it matters to belong to a local Church. This is why the Body of Christ is absolutely necessary. Our church embodied these two verses:

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15

“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Cor 12:26

Commit to her.