So many have been hit hard by the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, and our family is no exception. My husband and boys know him best from basketball, but I know him best from being his exact age (we were born on the same day in the same year) and being starry eyed over what a beautiful couple he and Brandy made when they attended her prom together when they (and I) were high school seniors. Such a funny memory!

Since the tragic news broke, I discovered that Kobe and his family are Catholic, which I hadn’t known. Beautiful stories are being told of his Mass attendance and reliance on his faith, including the fact that he attended Mass the morning of his death. What a gift, and such a consolation for his loved ones.

One article reported:

“Mr. Mauser [husband of Christina, who died in the crash] said that he had cuddled in bed with his children as they grieved, and that his older daughter had been comforted by what she saw on television.

“We watched ‘SportsCenter’ for two seconds and everything was about how much everybody was mourning and hurting, and she said it was nice to know that everybody was hurting along with us,” he said. “And I know that sounds odd, but it still kind of helps.”“

This is one of the best uses of the media (social and otherwise) — it’s such a lovely thing when our country feels like a community that cares about each other.

Eternal rest grant unto all the deceased, O Lord — Kobe and Gianna; John and Keri and daughter Alyssa; Sarah and daughter Payton; coach Christina; and pilot Ara — and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Prayers also for their families — spouses and children left behind — I can’t even imagine.