Very Emotional Week
This week has been very emotional. It started Tuesday evening with a call from my brother Jim. The last time I heard from Jim was 2 weeks ago when he showed up on my door step wanting money so he would not be homeless. I usually hesitate before I answer a phone call from Jim. I picked up, he informed me that he had just found out that his AA sponser was found dead from a suicide the night before, could I call and tell Mom & Dad. So sad, he did not want anything from me but an ear.
Later in the week, after dropping my grandson off at preschool, I get a disturbing call from my sister Julie. She says Kath, turn on the news there has been a shooting at the local High School, the school where our father worked as a vice principal for 35 yrs, where my husband and sons all went to school. So terribly sad, a self inflicted gun shot wound with an attempted in front of the boys class. Turns out the boy is the nephew of very close friends of ours. This just happened to be what would have been our eldest brother, Mark's 56th birthday had he lived. With all this emotion, I was just a mess and trying to figure out how to channel my emotions. The very next night, the high school put out a notice that they would be holding a prayer vigil that night, right there and then I decided I needed to be there to prayer for this poor boy and his family as he lay clinging to life in the MICU at the University hospital. My sister, her family and my daughter Jackie also attended. So much out pouring love for this family and the community was felt that evening. But I also felt the message of love was there for any of us struggling in life.
Any time anyone is struggling in life, the message has to get out that you are not in this alone. Turn to someone and let people, especially children and teens, that you are there for them to hear them, listen to them, to let them know that they are not on this journey alone. GOD is here for you and he sent me to listen to your concerns. Too often, people and especially kids think they are all alone, but chances are there are many people among you that have felt exactly like you do right now. Now is a time for praying, healing, understanding to get these families through these very tragic events.
Later in the week, after dropping my grandson off at preschool, I get a disturbing call from my sister Julie. She says Kath, turn on the news there has been a shooting at the local High School, the school where our father worked as a vice principal for 35 yrs, where my husband and sons all went to school. So terribly sad, a self inflicted gun shot wound with an attempted in front of the boys class. Turns out the boy is the nephew of very close friends of ours. This just happened to be what would have been our eldest brother, Mark's 56th birthday had he lived. With all this emotion, I was just a mess and trying to figure out how to channel my emotions. The very next night, the high school put out a notice that they would be holding a prayer vigil that night, right there and then I decided I needed to be there to prayer for this poor boy and his family as he lay clinging to life in the MICU at the University hospital. My sister, her family and my daughter Jackie also attended. So much out pouring love for this family and the community was felt that evening. But I also felt the message of love was there for any of us struggling in life.
Any time anyone is struggling in life, the message has to get out that you are not in this alone. Turn to someone and let people, especially children and teens, that you are there for them to hear them, listen to them, to let them know that they are not on this journey alone. GOD is here for you and he sent me to listen to your concerns. Too often, people and especially kids think they are all alone, but chances are there are many people among you that have felt exactly like you do right now. Now is a time for praying, healing, understanding to get these families through these very tragic events.
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