In her book Openness Unhindered, Rosaria Butterfield writes about a robbery that occurred in her home. The thieves took her mother's precious jewelry, beat the family dog, and ransacked the house. Rosaria writes,

We all were in a state of shock. My children's anxiety rocketed through the roof. Not one of us felt OK for months … It was hard to be robbed. It was hard to have God test so powerfully and privately what we proclaimed publicly—that even if you are hurt, people can't take the things that matter most and that will survive to the new heavens and earth: your soul and his Word.

But after experiencing the profound support of their church family, Rosaria writes about the strength that her family had to reach out after the robbery:

The day after we were robbed, Kent pushed the grill to the front yard, where the picnic table was already waiting. Then, he posted three things on the neighborhood email list: we were robbed; robbers took stuff, but not things of eternal value—the Word of God and the life souls of people—and we would love for everyone to join us for burgers and hot dogs on the Lord's Day, starting at three o'clock. That Lord's Day was Mother's Day, and my husband had just invited 300 people to our front yard.

Well, that is how things go at the Butterfields! It was a joy-filled time, with hot dogs and kids and water guns and meeting new and old friends. Twenty-one neighbors showed up, and most of our church family as well. And when our unbelieving neighbors asked how we were holding up, Kent was able to share the gospel with new legitimacy, because where God is in your loss matters more to a skeptical, unbelieving, and watching world than where God is in your plenty.