10/02/2026
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” — Proverbs 17:17
This summer was a long trail of change—stepping out of Man in the Mirror, returning to hospice for a season, and finally being planted at Oak Hill as Chaplain. But underneath all that movement was the quiet, heavy work my wife and I carried together as we cared for her mother through her final stretch of life. She shouldered most of the daily responsibilities, and I watched her serve with a strength that deserves respect. When her mom went home to the Lord in early September, that long season came to its close. It wasn’t just a shift in ministry—it was a shift in family, in weight, in the kind of load a man and his wife carry side‑by‑side.
At her memorial service, something familiar rose up—brotherhood forged in grief. Nine years ago, at my father‑in‑law’s service, I was officiating and suddenly couldn’t speak. The emotion hit hard and fast. My brother-in-law, Tim, stepped up beside me without hesitation, like a true Mud Brother, and helped me steady myself so I could finish. That moment was the first spark of real brotherhood between us. This time, at his mother’s service, I was able to officiate without faltering—but the deeper moment came later, when Tim and I sat together on the back porch and talked honestly about life, loss, and the kind of men we’re becoming.
Today, I don’t just call him my brother‑in‑law. I call him a true Mud Brother—a man I trust, a man who shows up, a man who stands shoulder‑to‑shoulder when life gets heavy. That’s the heartbeat of Tough Trials, Honest Faith. Brotherhood isn’t built in the clean places. It’s built in the mud, in the grief, in the moments when a man steps forward and says, “I’m here.” And this summer, through all its trials and changes, God gave me a brother I’ll walk with for the rest of my life.
toughtrials.com
