Are you the person who remains even-keeled despite the chaos around you, or are you like the disciples—full of anxiety and cautiousness? As Jesus prepares his disciples at the Last Supper, knowing he will soon be handed over, denied, and crucified, he offers them a sea of calm reassurance: "Do not let your hearts be troubled." But Jesus isn't telling us we won't experience anxiety, fear, confusion, or distress. Rather, he's reminding us that we never have to walk this journey alone. Through the deeply personal story of a youngest son on the spectrum purchasing his own home and thriving independently, Renee Larsen shows us what it means to "prepare a place"—and how Jesus wraps us in reassurance even when we're bundles of nerves and stress. From the forgotten can opener to the empty nest that's hard to embrace, her reflection acknowledges the reality of functional anxiety, depression, and mental health struggles many of us face. Yet even in our most distressing times, a simple prayer—"Please Lord, ease my mind and my heart and hold me close"—reminds us that Jesus is always with us, wanting to share in our joys and our sorrows, and that sometimes the simplest of prayers is all we need.

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Renee is a Midland native who attended Midland Public Schools, graduating from Midland High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary/Middle School Education from Saginaw Valley State University. She retired from teaching middle school and is now a part of the Blessed Sacrament Liturgy Team. When she’s not at work, she’s usually with her dog, Purl, and has a set of knitting needles or a crochet hook in hand busy on one project or another.