One of my oldest and dearest friends is Dan. We have been incredibly close for over thirty years. Our families are so interconnected we actually are family. At a minimum, we spend every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter together and our children are as close as close cousins. We’ve had more celebrations than I can count and we have weathered more than a few heavy storms. We’ve lived a whole lot of life together and all love one another deeply. But that’s not why I’m writing.

While chatting with Dan at their house on the back patio after dinner last night, Dan shared a brief story. He has become close to another friend, with whom he shares both time and things important to both of them. His friend has a ten year old daughter. From the telling of it, this daughter is the light of his life. What ten year old daughter wouldn’t be?

She was recently diagnosed with a terrible form of stage four cancer. The path ahead is dark. The girl is a joy and has been one to breathe joy into the lives of many others, I understand. Not just her parents. Her name is London.

If you are reading this and are given to prayer, please pause now and lift up young London. Ask for healing in her body and strength in the hearts and minds of those who love and care for her. We give thanks for London and for her family and for the medical staff and for Dan and everyone who touches London’s life. We give thanks for dear friends and the ability to share agonizing burdens and for the knowledge that we are not alone in our suffering. We pray deeply for healing. Amen.