Loss

Goodbye Steve

This is the saddest of times for my Mt Gambier family. We've lost our friend Steve; the gentle, thoughtful, honorable one among us. Even though I've only been here for a year and a half, he was one of the people that made me feel I was planted here. It is hard to believe he is gone. At our good Friday service I saw his smiling face a few seats along, then Easter Sunday, the text message saying he was missing on the river.

We know he won't be disappointed with what's ahead for him, we'll even be there with him one day, but for now his going leaves a space that feels so wrong. Steve was a quiet person who had a rock like quality and such a deep commitment to God, his family and friends that his part in our lives was so felt by us. The hole hurts.

It's this woman, and Steve's parents, that will feel his absence the most. As those who read my blog regularly would know, Steve's wife Kristy was quickly part of our home group and her new country life down here. 10 weeks of marriage and 31 years with a son do not seem nearly enough.

I haven't really experienced grief often myself but my heart literally aches for what Kristy has lost. They were the kind of couple you know God brought together, you could see it in their eyes, the integrity of their relationship and their openness to others. Now, the beautiful path Kristy thought was set before her has suddenly been covered over and there are mysteries now that only time will open up to her. I don't know if she will stay in Mt Gambier now or not and, of course, she needs to do what she thinks is right, whatever that means. But, speaking from my own perspective, I don't want to loose her too, even if it is to Adelaide or Texas. I feel connected to her, not because I knew her as Steve's wife. We share a sisterhood and for some reason God chose to place us here in this place for this time, however long or short that may be.

A few posts ago I talked about not praying lately. That doesn't mean I don't think toward God. I've been doing that a lot the last few days. I think toward him to be gentle with Kristy now, to take care of those here who have loved Steve since he was a boy... his Mum and Dad, his sisters, his mates and their parents. The guys here have a bond like I've never seen amongst any other group of men. Matt, Simun, Luke, Jason and the two Davids, amongst others, will miss him so much!

I don't know where you're at with God, but there are some people here who could really do with your strength in Him. So pray, think toward God, whatever it is that you can manage.

To read what others of us have to say go to Kristy's sister's blog and Stitching Mum's. Matt has written a memorial blog now and his best man speech says a lot about who Steve was as well.