Have you ever experienced something that had minimal long-term effect, but made a huge impact on you, never-the-less?
I experienced one of those events last night.
The fire truck was going down our street with the lights on, and then it stopped. Just two houses down and across the street from me. I know all of my immediate neighbors, so I know that in this house is an elderly lady who has lived there pretty much since the day we moved in, over twenty years a go.
I stepped outside to find out what had happened, and I saw a young man and lady embraced in each others arms. Then I heard the sound. The sound of agony, and pain and torment, all rolled into one.
A sound I’m all too familiar with…the sound of the pain of death.
I stood on my front step for a moment, I knew it was bad, but what was it? Then the ambulance drove up to the house. It stopped. Someone got out, and within seconds the driver was back in the vehicle, and the ambulance left. There was no need for it to be there, there was no life to save, the life was gone.
A life taken all too soon, by her own hands, but it wasn’t the elderly lady, it was a young lady who was renting a room from the elderly lady. She apparently had lost all hope, and in her despair, she took her own life.
It was so painful as I stood there and saw her children trying to wrap their minds around what they had just seen and found out. I don’t know them, but I know the pain and the anguish they were experiencing. I know the gut-wrenching feeling, the unfathomable anguish. I know that this is not only going to effect their lives, but it is also going to have a huge impact on them….for the rest of their lives.
There was absolutely nothing I could do to help them. I couldn’t bring her back to them, which I know is all that they really wanted. I couldn’t take that awful heartache and pain away.
I could only pray for them, and so I did. I prayed that God would wrap His strong arms around them, and bring them a peace and a comfort that only He can give.
A peace and a comfort that I am also very familiar with.
And so it is, on this “Thankful Thursday“… I am once again thankful for so many things…but I am especially thankful for the love and support of my family and for the strong arms of my God.
“Riches take wings, comforts vanish, hope withers away,but love stays with us. Love is God.” – Lew Wallace
Blessings through raindrops... 
This brought me tears of sadness and then tears of joy. I often struggle with suicide, does that make the person stronger, or weaker? I could never imagine wanting to do something like that. I hope your prayers were answered!
I know just what you mean – I struggle with it as well. I have a feeling, we aren’t alone in our struggles. The death of a loved one is extremely difficult as it is – add the suicide factor to it, and it just makes my head spin. I can’t even imagine the pain…and I hope and pray I never have to experience it.
A blessing to read your words tonight, Becky.
Thank you Audrey Dawn…I always appreciate your words of encouragement 🙂
How can you not be sad when someone finds no reason to live? I cannot imagine being so deep in despair.
True, it was extremely sad.
I have to say, I think I can imagine the despair that could bring a person to this point in their life. I can’t imagine actually taking my life, but I think I can understand how you could get to that point. I guess that is why it is so important to stay connected to God, family and friends.
Oh, my heart goes out to her loved ones. Like your other commenter above, I can’t understand suicide. But I do understand how so much pain and sorrow in this world truly can be overwhelming. That’s why your blog post is a good reminder to approach each day as it arrives with thankfulness and prayer.
Thank you for your very kind and thoughtful words. I agree with you, I don’t understand suicide, but I do understand pain and sorrow in this world.
But even in all the pain and sorrow….I am truely blessed, and have so many things to be thankful for.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Becky
It is truly sad when someone feels so much pain that they can’t see any other way than to end their life and it breaks my heart, knowing how they feel. Being overwhelmed with despair and feeling worthless, causes us to lose hope and we can no longer connect with reality. Thankfully, because of God’s love, I have overcome these feelings and now I love the life I once hated. God can bring peace to our lives if we just ask Him.
So sad.