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Bless Our Cousins

We're approaching the one year anniversary of the death of a family friend. He was young. His passing was sudden and heartbreaking. I often find myself thinking about his family. How are they doing today? What was hard for them today? How have they felt peace? What would they want me or others to know about them and their son?

This loss happened during a time that was very challenging for our own family for different reasons. When things are hard for me, I'm more likely to become quiet, withdrawn, introspective. I don't know if our kids sensed the stress, but I did notice a change in our family prayers--especially Gavin's.

What could a five-year old understand about such a loss? I tried not to be too surprised by his intuitiveness. Brooklyn too, who had just been baptized and made that beautiful promise in the Book of Mormon, Mosiah . They seemed to instinctively understand what it was to mourn with those that mourn.

Every time Gavin was called upon to pray, morning, night, or at meals, he included this family in his prayers. Every time.

After a few months, he didn't stop. And the lessons and experience we gained in learning to mourn with those that mourn didn't stop either.

Gavin's uncle's dad died. Their family was added to his prayers. Another family close to us were faced with a sudden move across the country--much like our move. They were added to Gavin's prayers. My best friend lost her father suddenly. He added her family to his prayers.

With the addition of my friend's family, Gavin's prayers changed. He didn't stop praying for our dear friends and family who experienced trials, but his list was getting long. He resorted to saying, "Bless our cousins. Help them with what they need."

Technically, not all these people are our cousins. But he thinks of close family friends this way.

So Gavin prays for our cousins. And I have found myself using the same words in my prayers. Sometimes I name them individually. Sometimes I simply see their faces in my mind as I say, "Bless our cousins." We plead with God to comfort them, and to give them the power they need to overcome their sadness and stress. To give them peace.

I know He listens.




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