The second (commandment) is you must love others as much as
yourself.
Mark 12:31
The members of Foothills have truly lived up to this great
commandment and I have had the privilege of receiving their love
when I really needed it. In 2008 I wrote the following for the
Lenten Devotional Booklet: “I thank God over and over that He led
us to Foothills. The people of Foothills have become our second
family and we know they will always be there for us.”
Little did I know then how important the loving support of our
Foothills family would be when I needed it. In the fall of 2008 Jack,
my husband of 54 years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease,
for which there is no cure. His physical and mental condition
deteriorated until he died in October 2010.
Throughout those difficult years I received so much help from my
Foothills family. I especially appreciated the loving prayers, notes
and hugs that kept me going then and that wonderful support
hasn’t stopped yet. In January of this year when I unexpectedly
became very sick and was hospitalized, more notes and prayers
surrounded me and helped me recover. Eventually I was delighted
to get a clean bill of health from my doctor and I’m doing well now.
I am convinced that the love expressed to me through the prayers of
my Foothills family, my neighbors and my family was significantly
responsible for getting me through those very difficult times and for
making me healthy again. I thank God over and over for leading me
to Foothills and making me feel so loved by this caring and
prayerful community, who have been and always will be my very
special “second family.”
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the many gifts of love that I
have received from others and help me to return these gifts
by loving others as much as myself. Amen.
