Greetings!
On Dec. 20th, 2023 my mom went to be with Jesus. The influence of my mom on my life can not be overstated. So much of who I am as a person and a pastor can be traced back to her. She lived out her faith with the greatest sincerity, which also meant her life was defined by love for God and for others. The mix of emotions when losing a saint in Christ Jesus is always complex. Happy for them, and yet embracing a new season of grief due to the loss.
But it is not a grief without gratitude. One of the major pieces of gratitude in my heart was the timing. The timing of losing her after I have found belonging with my church family at Countryside. Had she passed a couple years prior to us being at Countryside, the loss would have felt exponentially harder. Our church has surrounded Lynsey and I with love, and is supporting us by hosting a service for my mom at Countryside January 19th (this Friday) at 1:00pm.
Belonging isn’t something we simply talk about, it is a lifeline we experience. It is something we don’t realize how deeply it matters until we face our moments of need. If you want to hear about my mom’s life this Friday you are welcome to attend, but I write this mostly to say thank you. Thank you for being a beautiful picture of the power of belonging in the family of God.
Pastor Jon
