We've got your back.

On August 6, 2013, after a five month battle, my father-in-law died. His wife, my mother-in-law, has been by his side, day in, day out, for over half a century. Fifty-plus years. After the initial shock of his death began to subside, I knew there were things that needed to be done. They were the kind of things that my father-in-law took care of during their entire lifetime together. And now it would be up to her. I could tell she was lost and did not know where to begin. So my wife and I gathered her papers, forms and files, and brought them to our house. Over the course of several hours this weekend and this morning, we outlined what needed to be done. Credit cards, bank accounts, life insurance, taxes, remains... one by one, we plowed through the "things to do" list that haunted her daily for the past week and a half. Finally, we reached the bottom of the list.

Before I left for work, I turned to my MIL and said, "there are things that I need to say. Things that you need to hear." Is now a good time? When she said, "yes," I began.

"I know you're overwhelmed right now. With grief. With loss. With questions. With doubts. With all the things that are facing you right now that seem overwhelming. But this is what I need to say. This is what you need to understand. We--- will--- not--- let--- you--- fall. We-- will--- not--- let-- you--- fail. We are your family. We are here for you, 24/7/365. Together, we will all get through this and help you live the kind of life that M would want for you if he were here right now. There will be a time down the road when you and he are reunited. But until then, I am certain as I am sitting here that M would not want you to waste a single minute of the time you have left. And L and I are here to help you make the most of it. Everything will be all right. You'll see."

After she stopped crying, I could tell that much of the stress and strain that burdened her for the past half month had subsided. Will there be tears down the road? Of course. Will there be a sense of sadness and loss? Undoubtedly. But sometimes, a loved one in pain simply needs to hear words of comfort. Words of strength. "We will not let you fall. We will not let you fail."

I do not know what the future holds for our newly extended family. But I know that regardless of the cost, the feeling of helping a family member to find her footing and to take those first tentative steps after a life tragedy, is utterly priceless.

Look around you. Is there someone in your family... your home... your place of worship.... your job... your neighborhood... who needs to hear those same words? To feel that same sense of being cared for? Cared about? Think of the amazing power you have to make the difference in the life of someone around you. You may not have the power to change the whole world. But you DO have the power to change the whole world for one person.