Good morning (evening).  I’m Era Jo Parham, Johnny Carole’s sister from near Birmingham, AL.

   I’m just so grateful to you lovely Missouri folks for loving my sister.  All the beautiful flowers, loving card, and mostly your presence makes me thankful.

   There’s a verse from Romans 12 I want to read.  Y’all I’m not nervous; I have neuropathy with tremors.

   Verse 15 says “Rejoice with those who rejoice.”  You know, that’s so easy, so fun.  Laughter feels good.  Good like medicine.  And it goes on to say, “Weep with those that weep.”  I think, in today’s culture, we tend to lean toward thinking it’s best (and easier) to think positive.  Sometimes we almost feel like saying, “It’s over, snap out of it.”  “Just remember the good times.” And so on.

   I see Johnny Carole and Chip’s marriage as a piece of cloth that’s been woven together so tightly.  You know, when you take some cloth and you rip it down the middle, there’s all these little ragged edges.

   Chip’s in Heaven.  He not only is with Jesus, but as an extra bonus, he’s with their very first child. 

   I was living in Stamford, CT, when they met, feel in love, married and became pregnant – so much joy!  After nine months plus, it was tragically discovered that the baby, once born, would die.  Yet Johnny had to, for a time, continue with the longed for pregnancy.  She and Chip received the news one night after they’d invited me over for Johnny’s incredible home made lasagna.  I’d called and received the news.  I, not knowing how to effectively weep with those who wept, said, “Oh, then I won’t come over.”  She told me, “No.  We want you to come.”  Guys, who does that?  Who in the midst of disaster, still cooks dinner for someone?  They did.

   I drove over, feeling inadequate – because I was inadequate.  We sat and as I swallowed each bite, the lump in my throat was so huge I had a horrible time swallowing.  Eating in silence, Chip excused himself and went into the bedroom where we could hear him crying.  Again, at that point in my life – I had no words of comfort.

   After dinner, Johnny asked me to help with her suitcase.  Not knowing what that meant, I went and dumbly watched as she removed all the tiny baby clothes, leaving only her things.

   The surgery was brutal and she was badly hurt from it.  When I came to the hospital, she told me all the sweet, wonderful and well-meaning friends who came by tried to cheer her up in the only ways they knew.  Words like, “Oh, you’ll soon have a  house full of crying babies – don’t worry about it.”  Or, “You wait and see.  This time next year, you’ll be holding another baby in your arms.”  No one, including me, her sister, knew how to weep with those who weep.

   We all know how easy it is to be a lovely person when all is going well.  I do really great when the sun shines in my life.  But when things are bottoming out, not so much.

   But the united force of Chip and Johnny did great either way.  They were solid in good times and solid in bad times.  Pretty powerful stuff!

   The two of them demonstrated Christ’s love – always.

   Another verse I’d like to share is Galatians 6:2.  “Bear ye one another’s burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  Really?  We can fulfill the LAW of Christ?

   Another time, Johnny and Chip were driving to see relatives for Christmas.  Little ones buckled in, loads of gifts wrapped.  And, because of ice, the car went over an embankment.  There was a trip to the emergency room.

   Later, was there anyone weeping with those who wept?

   The main thing that was repeated over and over was, “You are So So Lucky?”  Well meaning, thoughtful, good folks.

   Soon, I’ll be in Alabama.  Yes, I can text.  But I can’t hug my sister.  Yes, phone calls are great.  But I can’t look deep into her eyes to see how much she’s struggling on any given day.

   So, dear friends, please “Show Me”.  Not for a couple of weeks but maybe the better part of a year.  Let’s fulfill the law of Christ and help my sister bear the loss of this incredible man!

   I know you will and Thank You!