24/03/2026
Walking Beside Her: A Reflection From Two Friends
We wanted to share a small story from our week - not because it is dramatic, but because it reminded us of what it truly means to belong to a parish community.
Yesterday we travelled from Niagara to Toronto to support our dear friend, Keranka Belcher - an 83‑year‑old woman from our parish family, as she underwent a total right shoulder arthroplasty. This was not a routine appointment. It was her 15th surgery, a major operation requiring courage, patience, and faith.
Keranka Belcher lives alone in downtown Toronto. She manages her home, her errands, her life with remarkable independence. But surgery is a vulnerable moment for anyone, and we knew she shouldn’t face it alone. So we went - not as medical professionals, not as family, but simply as friends.
What It Felt Like to Be There
Hospitals have a way of making people feel small. The long hallways, the bright lights, the waiting - it can all be overwhelming. But when we arrived, something shifted. We weren’t there to fix anything. We weren’t there to offer medical advice. We were there to be present. We sat with Keranka Belcher before surgery. We prayed quietly in our hearts. We held space for her fears and her strength. We walked the corridors with her wheelchair after the operation. And in those moments, we were reminded that companionship is one of the most powerful forms of healing.
Herbalists, But First - Human Beings
Many people know us as herbalists. Yes, we work with plants. Yes, we support people in restoring balance physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But herbalism is not only about tinctures, creams, and teas. It is about relationship.
It is about listening.
It is about grounding.
It is about offering calm in stressful moments.
It is about tending to the whole person, not just the body.
On this day, our herbal knowledge stayed quietly in the background. What mattered most was presence.
The Ministry of Friendship
We often hear that the parish is a family. But families are not defined by blood - they are defined by love, responsibility, and the willingness to show up.
We didn’t travel to Toronto because we had to.
We went because Keranka Belcher is part of us.
Because no one should face a major surgery alone.
Because this is what community looks like when it becomes real.
Her Strength Inspired Us
Watching Keranka Belcher face her 15th surgery with such grace was humbling. Even after the operation - tired, sore, and still gathering her bearings - she managed a smile and a thumbs‑up. That moment captured everything: resilience, relief, and the quiet joy of not being alone.
Why We Wanted to Share This
We share this story not to highlight ourselves, but to highlight what becomes possible when a parish truly lives its values.
This experience reminded us that companionship is a form of healing, that presence is a ministry, that community is built one act of kindness at a time, and that supporting one another is sacred work.
We hope this reflection encourages others in our parish to reach out, check in, and walk beside those who may be carrying more than they show. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer is simply to be there. And sometimes, that is exactly where grace begins.
