Saturday, February 17, 2007

split-second madness...lifetime consequences

How do you get over losing someone in such a tragic way? Do you ever?

My best friend of over 20 years lost her brother one fateful February day. He spent four days in the ICU after being struck in the head with a blunt object. It was a deliberate act, the perpetrator’s way of getting even over something so insignificant. And because of that a wife lost the husband to whom she has dedicated her life. Because of that one stupid act, two boys will grow up, fighting their own battles, making sense of the world without a father to guide them through. A family will spend the rest of tomorrow asking questions they may never find the answers to.

The day I went to the hospital, I felt part of the pain that the rest of the family was feeling. I can only imagine the mixture of emotions they are experiencing…anger, grief, disbelief…

If only if it weren’t so sudden, if only there was a chance for a proper goodbye, an opportunity to assure that everything will be okay despite his leaving.

The greatest pain comes from knowing that his life was taken away by someone who did not think twice to measure how much his life is worth to his family and friends. Here is a man who is a great provider, a loving husband and a dutiful son, and yet his life is taken away in a spur of a moment, a result of a trivial issue that could have been easily resolved.

Words of condolences uttered may be worthless at the moment. It can never dull the pain no matter what. Words of assurance that he is now in the presence of his Maker, may even sound too condescending. For now I can only offer prayers for the family. Prayers to help them heal. There is no way to hasten the process of healing, it will be a rough and bumpy ride but the whole family must commit to hold hands throughout the journey.

I know it will take long, maybe years to understand why something like this has to happen. Only God knows the answers, only He knows why.