Death of a young man
At my age (44), I've never had to experience the loss of a good friend. I've lost family members (grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, mother-in-law) and casual acquaintances, but never a close friend. It's hard enough to deal with it at our age. Teens and young adults should not have to face it.
My daughter lost a friend this week. He was a fellow castmate in a musical a couple of months ago. He was just a sophomore in high school. All reports indicate that this was an accidental death, but definitely one that could have been prevented.
I remember learning in child psychology that teenagers and toddlers are a lot alike. They both have this sense of immortality. It can't happen to me. It won't happen to me. I hear experts say that we should talk to our kids. Tell your kids that (fill in the blank) can kill you. What good is that? They won't believe it. "So-n-so" did it and he lived. It's a tragic lesson, and one that I fear will be lost on his peers that are left behind.
My daughter said that funeral was so hard to get through. It was standing room only. Obviously, this young man was loved by many. He was talented, energetic, fun, adorable, etc. Many of her fellow cast mates were there. It helped her to be around them. After all, we didn't know the young man.
As a mother, I am aching for his mother. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. It's something that is always in the back of my mind, but I don't think I could handle it. They say that God never gives you more than you can handle. I've had to handle quite a lot, but I don't know how I would react in that situation.
I pray that his family will have some peace eventually. I pray for his friends. I hope that his death will be a lesson. Right now, I think it is, but what about a month from now? Will they remember how he died?
There are no easy answers when something like this happens. I do believe there is a plan for all of us. There's no way of knowing what the plan is here, but maybe one day we'll look back and say, "oh! now I understand!"
God bless and keep you Kris.
My daughter lost a friend this week. He was a fellow castmate in a musical a couple of months ago. He was just a sophomore in high school. All reports indicate that this was an accidental death, but definitely one that could have been prevented.
I remember learning in child psychology that teenagers and toddlers are a lot alike. They both have this sense of immortality. It can't happen to me. It won't happen to me. I hear experts say that we should talk to our kids. Tell your kids that (fill in the blank) can kill you. What good is that? They won't believe it. "So-n-so" did it and he lived. It's a tragic lesson, and one that I fear will be lost on his peers that are left behind.
My daughter said that funeral was so hard to get through. It was standing room only. Obviously, this young man was loved by many. He was talented, energetic, fun, adorable, etc. Many of her fellow cast mates were there. It helped her to be around them. After all, we didn't know the young man.
As a mother, I am aching for his mother. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. It's something that is always in the back of my mind, but I don't think I could handle it. They say that God never gives you more than you can handle. I've had to handle quite a lot, but I don't know how I would react in that situation.
I pray that his family will have some peace eventually. I pray for his friends. I hope that his death will be a lesson. Right now, I think it is, but what about a month from now? Will they remember how he died?
There are no easy answers when something like this happens. I do believe there is a plan for all of us. There's no way of knowing what the plan is here, but maybe one day we'll look back and say, "oh! now I understand!"
God bless and keep you Kris.