It was the beginning of the spring semester of my sophomore year in college. I was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and mentoring a younger pledge member, a “little.” I loved getting to know her and our friendship was getting stronger every day. She was everything a freshman in college should be: kind, excited, giggly, and motivated.
It was a Tuesday night, and I was attending Overflow, the weekly worship where college students from all walks of life and denominations would gather for an hour of worship. I knew my Little was there, but I was not sitting next to her. During one of the songs, I felt an overwhelming feeling to find her, tell her I loved her, and that I was there for her always. I found her with a group of friends singing and smiling. I told her what God had laid on my heart and she replied with that giggle, “Big! I know! I am so glad we found each other.” I went back to my seat and carried on with worship.
Fast forward a few hours, I’m sitting in my apartment and my roommate walked in and told me news that would change the course of my Little’s life forever. My little was just informed that her parents were in a car accident and neither survived. It was a gut-wrenching moment I will never forget. The entire house got together to pray, then I went up to her room to help her get ready to head back to her hometown to join her other three siblings.
The next several days were filled with family and friends gathering to help the four young adults figure out life without their parents. It was amazing to see family, friends and a community come together to help in a time of need. Today, all four are thriving and enjoying life, married with kids. Although their lives were forever changed, through their devotion to God’s goodness, they found joy even in the absence of the two people they loved most.
I often reflect on that night at Overflow, the room where it happened for me. The room where God so vividly laid on my heart my responsibility as His child to love, care for, and be there for a friend. Most importantly God also inspired me to tell her those things. I had no idea what this would actually look like in just a few hours, but God had already prepared my heart.
I cannot help but think of the Last Supper. Jesus was preparing the disciples for what was about to happen. The road ahead would not be easy, and not always fun, but they were prepared with the promise of God’s love, mercy, and most importantly, the Holy Spirit coming to guide them along the way.
Sarah Cohea, Edmond Campus Director of Youth Ministry
