There is a saying that all unfortunate things happen in 3’s…. and over the last 2 days, 3 things have broken… My sister in law’s car broke down, My mother-in-law’s aga broke down… and it is suspected a friend just broke his ankle ..

 

But what I have noticed about these unfortunate incidents, is how families and communities pull together.

 

I loved the Queen’s quote from the Gospel of St John – ‘The light shines on in the darkness, the darkness did not overcome it’.

 

While all of our incidents were relatively minor in comparison to so many of the tragedies that have happened this year and continue to take place in the moment, they were occurrences that could have upset many plans and little people…

 

While my sister-in-law’s car broke down on the way to stay with her in-laws, it was her brother-in-law who drove all the way to rescue them late on Christmas Eve, so that their family could spend Christmas together, with new Grandchildren and excited Grandparents…

 

While my mother-in-law’s aga broke down, we are fortunate enough to live next door and have an aga and an oven… We may have run a few trips back and forth between the houses with our raincoats and wellies swopped for our heels, but we sat down together to a wonderful hot meal altogether.

 

While my friend slipped in the mud, while watching the rising river, friends rallied to his rescue – strangers went home to get blankets while we waited for the ambulance that never arrived… and another medical friend donned her wellies over her comfies and slid down to the river to provide support, rule out concussion from the fall and comfort the family. Her husband and the Big Man helped him up the hill and drove him to hospital….

 

I am reminded that in times of distress or upset, all you need to do is ask for help. There are always people willing to help, lend a hand, give their time, give their provisions…

 

If you have the courage to ask, the feeling is heart warming….

 

#friends

#lightshinesthroughdarkness

#community