This column has nothing to do with sports.

It has everything to do with team — the power of team.

You don't have to wear a uniform, grip a baseball, shoot a basketball or pass a football to be part of a team. But, often times without thinking about it, we all belong to a team.

The team of family.

The team of friends.

The team of community.

The team of an organization.

The team of a caring facility.

My wife, Darlene, and I have been feeling the power of all of those teams over the past couple of weeks.

Darlene's mother, Betty Ann Pieto, died at age 87 at the Autumn Grove nursing home facility in Harrisville earlier this month. She spent the last few years of her life there.

She never lacked for love and compassion there.

Betty Ann was befriended by residents and staff members alike. People went out of their way to spend time with her, talk to her, put a smile on her face.

They did likewise to us while we grieved over the past two months, waiting for her inevitable final day to arrive.

That is one proud team up there.

Being an only child, Darlene may have sensed a feeling of loneliness in losing her mother. Her dad passed years ago.

To the contrary, she has received nothing but support.

Numerous cards and kind words from friends and family. Flowers from neighbors and her hairdresser. Dinner purchased and delivered by a friend. A gift box from the Butler Football Hometown Hero organization, a program I am proud to be a part of.

Acts of kindness and compassion and others like them, that we had no right to expect, but warmly received.

When you're part of a team in sports, your teammates pick you up when you are dealing with a loss on the field that is particularly painful.

When you're part of a team in life — multiple teams — your teammates pick you up when you are dealing with a personal loss that is particularly painful.

Sports truly are a microcosm of life.

Darlene and I have been realizing that in a big way of late.

Maybe this isn't the appropriate space or way to be doing this.

I'll do it anyway.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our teams and the power you've provided.

It will be felt for a lifetime.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle