This past weekend a good man I work with assisted at an accident scene at which another good man I worked with lost his life. I heard the sirens Saturday evening and, as always, began to pray, “Someone’s in trouble. Please help them, Lord.” What I realized this morning is that I’m leaving someone out of those prayers.

We live in a small town, and our lives intersect daily. My father is a pastor. My sister works for CPS. I have a nephew who is a volunteer fireman, and another is a sheriff’s deputy. I go to church with the county attorney. We all have family, neighbors and friends who spend their time on and off the clock watching over us, taking care of us and being with us in times of need. This means they have a front-row seat to the tragedies in the lives of their own family, friends and neighbors. What a physical and emotional toll that must take on a person. After all, our heroes are human just like their charges.

I just want to say I’m so grateful to all of you who watch over all of us. May we all keep these folks in prayer and do what we can to support them and their families while they support us. And the next time I hear those sires, I won’t be leaving those first responders out of my prayers.

Melodi Jackson