To my dear St. Alban's family,
As many of you know, I recently lost my mom unexpectedly due to a brain aneurysm while the two of us were away together in Wilmington. My mom had a kind and selfless spirit, always prioritizing others over herself. She spent her 61 years making the world more beautiful and filling in the gaps for those around her. She had a unique way of loving each individual in her life according to their specific needs, as she made an effort to listen and understand them deeply. She was my best friend.
In the midst of my sorrow, God has invited me to prepare the way for him with a thankful heart. Don’t get me wrong, my feelings of confusion and brokenness at the loss of my mom are still very present. I have, however, experienced so many moments of sweetness over the last month at the hands of others, especially the St. Alban’s community.
I want to offer you what feels like an inadequate thank you to each one of you that has supported me during this difficult time. Every prayer, hug, offer of condolence, card, gift, meal, and act of kindness has helped me to move forward and gain a deeper understanding of the grace of God. You have truly been the embodiment of Psalm 61 in my life and given me reasons to praise God when things are heavy.
Most of you do not know the behind-the-scenes details that the St. Alban’s clergy and staff handled in order to allow me the time away I needed. They exemplified the heart of Christ by leading through service, loving through sacrifice, and giving of themselves and their time for the sole purpose of easing my pain.
This dichotomy of experiencing grief and gratitude simultaneously is a bit overwhelming. Just know that my heart is overflowing with appreciation for each and every one of you that offered me beauty for ashes. May you be blessed!
With love,
Jessica
PSALM 61:1-3
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
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