It's a gloomy day in Madison. In fact, it's a gloomy day in the Midwest. Talking to friends in various locations around the country this morning, grey skies seem to be prevailing. What happened to Spring?It's a gloomy day in my heart. An old school mate died in a motorcycle accident on Friday. His mother needed to be dragged, kicking and screaming, from his dead body after sitting with him for over three hours in the morgue. Last night I arrived home to my neighbor walking up our driveway to apologize for not responding to our dinner invitation. Her 16-year-old nephew committed suicide on Sunday evening. The funeral was yesterday. She was wrecked, overwhelmed, exhausted.
In times like these, it's hard not to think about the incapacitating sadness that happens everyday in our world. The trials that people must endure. How do you move forward when your child is suddenly gone? Without any warning? As I was brushing my teeth last night, I couldn't help but ponder what life without children would be like. No fear of losing them. No worry that they will turn on you, hate you, live a life that destroys you. I've seen these all happen. And to good parents. Really good parents, including my own. I can't help but wonder if perhaps we're better off childless?
In the end, I don't honestly believe this is true for us. Just today. Just when I am confronted with mothers burying their children. It's not fair. It's not right. And so I will keep these folks in my heart and pray for them the words of Psalm 71...
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.
-Psalm 71:20-21
1 comment:
Wow, Hol, that is horrible. When stuff like that happens, I can't help but think those same questions. Someone very near to me had a miscarriage last week. I know that's not the same in degree of what those women went through....but it still made me think.
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