Thelma had been a widow for many years and because she never had children, she was completely alone in this world — or she would have been if not for her little church family.

When Thelma fell and broke her hip, she suddenly found herself homebound. Thankfully, her church family made sure she had plenty to eat, cleaned her house, and did her laundry. They mowed her yard and tended her garden — something in which she took great pride.

One day, while my uncle was visiting with Thelma, the home healthcare nurse arrived to check on her. “Have you been taking your pain pills to keep you comfortable?” the nurse asked.

“I don’t need them,” Thelma replied. “This young man is my preacher. He stops by every few days to visit and his wife brings the children to cheer me up. The rest of my church family see to everything else I need.”

“That’s wonderful,” the nurse smiled, “but that doesn’t do anything for managing your pain.”

“That’s not true,” Thelma told the nurse. “My friends are covering me with so much love there’s no room left for any pain.”

We all need to take a lesson from Thelma and her church family. We need to cover each other with love.