From Ed Sharp

For those of you that know our family, you are aware of the emotional (and spiritual) roller coaster we have been riding the past 12 months. We've been through several lows and associated highs and the Good Shepherd family has helped us through it all. More on that later.

When Jan and I returned to Raleigh as newlyweds 25 years ago, we ‘shopped' the majority of Episcopal churches in Wake County - some multiple times - and kept coming back to Good Shepherd. From the warm welcome we received as visitors to the calls and followups we received from Paul and Lucille Wetmore, we knew that we had found our church home. The Good Shepherd family quickly embraced Jan and me, and we have grown because of the influence of this parish.

Over the next 25 years, Good Shepherd has continued to play an important role in our lives. Our sons, Chas and Hunter, were baptized here and Jan and Chas were confirmed here. Good Lord willing, Hunter will see the bishop's hands soon. Our boys have developed into loving, caring young people largely influenced by the environment that they've been immersed in at Good Shepherd.

Last November, Jan was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Lymphoma. Luckily it was caught early and the prognosis was positive. However, that fact didn't dispel the worries, fright, and helplessness that our family, and especially Jan, felt. The support that we received from Good Shepherd was absolutely overwhelming. From the calls, visits, prayers, and cards, to the food deliveries, the concern and love we received was incredible. What amazed us is that some of the people we heard from or who delivered meals were people that we didn't even know but were part of the Good Shepherd family. They just wanted to support someone in need. That alone speaks volumes about Good Shepherd.

Jan has completed her regimen of chemotherapy and radiation and has received two ‘clean' diagnostic scans. The doctors are very optimistic that the disease has been eradicated. We thank God for the gift of health and are very thankful for the support we received from Good Shepherd during this time.

We hardly had time to celebrate Jan's good fortunes when round two of this year's trials came in June. My employer was hit hard by the economic downturn and eliminated a large number of professional and leadership positions - including mine as head of Information Technology. Through the Grace of God and the network of Good Shepherd parishioners, my period of unemployment was very short lived. I've always wanted to work in a non-profit or human services company and had a position find me through Good Shepherd. I'm now able to contribute to a company's technology needs but also have a direct impact on the lives of the people our company is serving. What a deal!

I think everyone believes their own families are loony at times. We all have the drama, wackiness, disagreements, and key events that document our family's life together. However, at the end of the day we put aside any differences and look for those things that bind us. Good Shepherd has those same family qualities. Though we all may be Episcopalian and Good Shepherd parishioners, our parish is very diverse with a very healthy dose of diversity of ideas - and an occasional disagreement. As a matter of fact, we may not always agree on most things, but there are two things we all agree on - a love of God and a love for one another. It is this diversity and this expression of love that continues to compel our family to be a part of this parish. Good Lord willing, we'll be here for another 25+ years. For the Sharps, Good Shepherd is certainly our Loving Family and Spiritual Home.