charity never faileth

Tonight I hugged a woman I'd never met before. She'd been crying, weeping, sobbing. I cried with her. And I hugged her again.  It's what we do when there is suffering: women, sisters, wives, mothers, neighbors. A young mom with three small children. Her husband was killed in a car accident late last night; she was told in the wee hours of the morning. They moved to my neighborhood two weeks ago and know but very few people here. Nonetheless, the troops have been rallied. It's a beautiful thing, this organization that in a matter of minutes arranged care for her children, prepared meals for her and her extended family, offered prayers and assistance in countless ways. It's difficult to know exactly what to do in such a tragic circumstance. Our instincts are to help, but how? Is my offering of coloring books, crayons, and tomorrow's breakfast really going to ease her burden? Temper the suffering of her family? I may never know, but I believe it's true that, as Camilla Kimball said,  one should "never suppress a generous thought."