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Faced with hardship, how do we keep our hearts from growing hard? This memorial service for 94-year-old Carolyn Sherrick explores a remarkable life guided by what the pastor calls "the three Gs of faith": gentleness, generosity, and gratitude.

From her meticulous work as a CPA to her collection of over 800 nativity scenes gathered during travels to 90 countries, Carolyn embodied intentional living. Her pastor shares touching memories of this unique parishioner—perhaps the only nonagenarian with whom he could have deep conversations about Harry Potter! This connection to stories like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings reflected Carolyn's understanding of life's fundamental struggle between light and darkness, and her choice to remain gentle even when circumstances might justify bitterness.

Through 71 years of marriage with her beloved Dick, Carolyn demonstrated that love doesn't merely endure challenges—it deepens through them. Even while caring for her husband during his heart failure, she maintained that characteristic twinkle in her eye and readiness to serve others. When the church discussed medical debt relief or creating a women's shelter, Carolyn was always first to ask, "How can I help?"

The service concludes with a profound reflection on Romans 8, affirming that nothing—not hardship, loss, or even death—can separate us from God's love. For those grieving, there's comfort in Dumbledore's words to Harry Potter: "Do not pity the dead. Pity the living and, above all, those who live without love." By that measure, Carolyn's life was immeasurably rich. How might her example inspire us to face our own challenges with gentleness instead of cynicism? Consider how you might incorporate the three Gs into your own spiritual practice today.

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