There are some relationships and events that only God can weave together for a beautiful, redemptive story. Hannah is one of these friends to me and her family’s story is a difficult one to tell, but one that begs to be known.

Little did I know that this instagram-initiated friendship founded on a mutual love of photography and similar life experiences would become a sister-bond and our families would become each other’s. It all changed from light-hearted and fun to heart-shattering suddenly one summer day. I found myself a few days later driving the backroads of southern Pennsylvania to deliver a meal to Hannah and her family as they made the heart-wrenching plans for memorializing her sister Rebekah. Rebekah passed due to a low speed car accident that was no fault of her own.

I remember sitting on my back deck watching my boys play one August morning while experiencing an unknown deep grief in my heart. I knew something was terribly wrong in my world. I jumped on facebook and saw the devastating news. At Rebekah’s memorial service Hannah bravely spoke about her wonderful memories with her big sister. About being forced to be dressed up like a living baby doll and being bossed around like big sisters do. But what stood out to me most was Hannah’s experience the night of Rebekah’s accident. Hannah knew the moment her sister left this earth. She woke up at the exact time of the accident screaming in pain and grief, yet she did not know what had happened in her rational mind.

There are people in this world, both of our family blood and not, that we are spiritually connected with. What our minds can’t grasp our hearts can.

I drove home after delivering lunch and stumbling through awkward attempting-to-comfort words with tears streaming down my cheeks. I cried out to God “why?” and “please comfort them, this is unbearable.” And I heard the Holy Spirit in my spirit say as clear as day, “You’re her sister now, here on this earth.” And the tears came all the more. I didn’t want to have to be, you see. I wanted Rebekah here with her. But, I was and am incredibly honored to be called to that relationship in her life by God.

The redemption and light in this dark part of Hannah’s story is found in preparation and new life. While I don’t believe it was God’s will for Rebekah to die so young, I do believe that God knew what was going to happen. And He placed people around Hannah and her family to be the arms of an ever-loving God in their deepest pain. Rebekah was here to celebrate Hannah and Zach’s wedding. Rebekah gave birth to a beautiful daughter while on this earth that is so much like her. And her memory is carried on in her beautiful niece Madelyn Rebekah.

For the few short years I’ve known Hannah I’ve had the joy of watching her grow from a fun-loving young woman to an intentional wife, and now a passionate mother to sweet Madelyn.

All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort.  He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

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