In a time when it may have been easy to question God’s overflowing love, the evidence of it was too deep to ignore. In 2013, my sister was only 42 when the diagnosis came and our family began to realize what “aggressive terminal cancer” really means. In the 26 days from diagnosis to her passing, we were filled with great apprehension of the loss we knew was coming.

Friends and family asked what they could do, so I set up a fund for contributions that could help her family with living expenses. With her undiagnosed symptoms, she had been unable to work for a while and their family was struggling financially. Within minutes, gifts came to support her with messages of encouragement and love. Her financial tension began to ease but, more importantly, I read messages to her and told her who was reaching out and what they were saying.

She asked me why people were sending messages and gifts. I explained that they loved her and cared what happens to her. She seemed genuinely surprised, smiled and went back to her morphine-induced sleep. I knew right then that she knew she was loved and she felt every word and act of concern that was given. That is a gift I will be grateful for as long as I can replay that memory in my mind.

God placed so many around us during those weeks to make sure we knew and felt overflowing love. We did feel it. I will never read about someone in hospice care or requests for help during those times of life the same again. I want to be part of someone feeling the way my sister did that day. Praise God for the overflowing love that finds ways to use even times like these for good.