It is hard to imagine anything more devastating to a family than a missing child.

In the past three days, since Casey Lynn Hathaway disappeared from his grandmother’s home in Ernul, hundreds of volunteers and trained professionals from eastern North Carolina and beyond have been working to secure his safe return.

When something like this happens, it brings a lot of attention — from the community, from emergency workers and from the media. It’s something that hits home with a lot of people, many of whom might be holding their own children a little closer. There’s a collective feeling that’s a combination of dread at what might happen and hope that that child might be found. It’s the kind of event that trains the attention of national news networks on the woods of Craven County.

On social media, the word “prayer” shows up again and again, and the word is not hollow. Throughout the state and beyond, there are undoubtedly thousands of people lifting Casey Hathaway up in prayer.

When the people of Ernul came together to hold a prayer vigil at New Haven Church on Wednesday, they joined hands, literally and symbolically coming together as a community. Whatever your beliefs might be, that is a powerful thing.

When ordinary people show up to volunteer, or to bring food and water for searchers, or offer a kind word, it reminds us that there’s still a lot of good in this world — people who care about their neighbors and helping in times of desperate need.

To the searchers working around the clock to find this child, we salute you. Your tireless efforts are commendable. Trekking through tough terrain and bad weather, you do things that most of us couldn’t do, and you do so selflessly, committed to doing whatever it takes.

To the family and friends praying for Casey’s safe return, we wish you comfort and solace. We hope from the bottom of our hearts that this story has a happy ending, and that Casey comes home to you.