It is now November… Thanksgiving is almost upon us. In these last five months, finding time to reflect on all we are thankful for has helped us focus on the goodness of God. That really started day one… daybreak of June 9th. In the raw hours of Ethan’s passing, the three of us worshiped our Lord as it was all we could do in those moments. Without finding daily thankful moments, this life – right now – is just too hard. It is an exercise I taught our boys very early on in our home life. To daily reflect on three things we are thankful for is a rhythm that produces a content heart. Starting such a rhythm with them at first helped to teach us how to adjust attitudes, taking focus off self talk. Now, it almost seems like it was an exercise meant to prepare us for these days after Ethan’s passing… to know how to grip the reality of what we once had and to remember. I am drawn to Psalm 23 and 24 daily which reminds me of the goodness of God so well.

In all the details we are processing through these days, we have experienced how God is caring for us. Many have reached out to us with words of care and encouragement. It has taken months of hard conversations, with sometimes complete strangers, to ask for help in one way or another… ending an apartment lease, talking to the would have been Supervisor at his intended job, University Deans, Bank representatives, Loan service members, and the list goes on. We pause now in the midst of it all, to express God has been so gracious. In early August, we received notice from one Private loan service that they had decided to cancel Ethan’s remaining undergraduate loan debt. He had two Private loans he had just begun making repayment toward at the time of his passing. Now, just as October came to a close, we received notice from the second Private loan service that they also canceled the loan. Their grace has been a very kind gesture from our Lord, acknowledging HE is with us.

Joel’s bible study friends had setup a Memorial Fund in the days after Ethan’s passing with these loan needs in mind. We are so very grateful for each person whom gave so generously. In light of God’s provision, our desire is to see this generosity put towards furthering God’s work where Ethan himself was on mission for Christ. Therefore, we have gifted 75% of the Memorial Fund to Ethan’s church at Purdue, Campus House. The remainder we are praying about where Ethan would desire it to be put to use. He was always eager to be engaged in the work of Feed My Starving Children and also was so very involved in the Purdue communities of his research in materials science and eSports.

This Thanksgiving, as we open our thankfulness journal, we have quite a lot to be grateful for.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances. for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18