Eight months after a fatal car accident took her son, a grieving mother faced a heartbreaking school tradition alone. Her young daughter was terrified to face her first day without her big brother. What his high school friends did next brought an entire small town to tears.
When we face terrible loss in life, God always finds a way to show up through the people around us. His comfort comes straight through ordinary neighbors who step in when our hearts are completely broken. We learn that even in our deepest grief, we are never left to carry the heavy load by ourselves.
The Curtwright family went through every parent’s worst nightmare when young Brady died from injuries after a terrible car crash between Manila and Jonesboro. His mother Ashley rushed to the scene right away. “I was a foot away from them. I heard them. I was there. I’m grateful for that. I needed to be there because my son never came home,” she said. It breaks my heart just thinking about what that poor mother went through that day.
As the new school year approached Nora did not want to go back. She and her brother always took a picture together on the first day of school every single year starting when Brady was small.
Nora was so worried about who would stand with her this time. She asked her mother who would take the picture with her now and Ashley just told her to hang on because they would figure it out together.
That is when Brady’s best friend Gabe Gonzales stepped up to help. He and Brady had been close since seventh grade and could talk about anything. Gabe texted their group chat to see who wanted to take a picture with Nora and every single boy said yes.
On that first morning Nora walked up holding a picture of her brother and found all of Brady’s friends waiting for her. Ashley said she had to fight back tears when she saw them standing there.
Nora was not scared anymore and was ready to own the year. The mother said the whole town has been fighting for them and showing love for eight long months.
Gabe and Ashley both want to keep this sweet tradition going every year. Ashley said those boys will never replace Brady but they have truly become family to them now.
These young boys truly acted as the hands and feet of Jesus when this family needed it most. We can all learn a lesson from how they stepped up for little Nora. We all need a heart that feels a heavy burden when someone we know is going through a hard time. We should do whatever we can to bring them comfort and peace.
Sometimes people just need our simple presence. They need us to sit with them and let them know they are not alone.
Take time to visit them often. Speak hopeful words to lift their spirit, and always offer a sweet prayer before you leave their home.
Please continue to hold the Curtwright family close in your daily prayers as they keep healing day by day.
WATCH: Little Girl Who Lost Her Brother Finds His Friends Lined Up to Continue Their First-Day-of-School Tradition
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