Enjoy each day.

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:53 am

I said have a blessed day to my two girls this morning at 6:20 a.m. as I do each morning as they rushed out of the front door to get on the bus. I asked each "where is your coat?" (yesterday, the temp was at least 75 degrees) "We don't know" was the reply because the coats were ditched at first sign of a lovely day.

I settled on the couch for a nap because I had two appointments before noon and a class later the evening. My telephone rang which is never a good sign so early in the morning.

"What are you doing today?" It was my sister. I went through my agenda for the day. "Oh, I was just wondering, because (a family friend's child)was found dead on the highway this morning and I was wondering if you would go to the accident site with me. The family and body is still there." Yes, I'll go with you.

As I quickly dressed, the birth, childhood years, graduation, marriage, and breakup of the young 20 something year old childless female's life went through my mind. I could picture the heartache and shock of the family immediately. During our Sunday worship service, we prayed for families that had a death in it because the local funeral home was at full capacity.

As we approached the accident site that was 10 minutes away from my home in our small community, I could see the family and cars lined up on both sides of the little country highway that is no more than a glorified asphalt road. And there, still, to the right, just off of the pavement, was a body with a bright white sheet covering it lying still.

I hugged everyone, I saw faces that I had seen for countless years, and expressed my sorrow. I approached the mom of the deceased young lady and embraced her and she held me tight drawing whatever she could from my spirit and I offered all that I could in the transfer. I asked "has anyone prayed?" and she said no. I said lets hold hands and I'll pray. The mother said "can we go close to my baby?" I said "yes, whatever you would like."

In that moment of loss I felt so much. Surprisingly enough I felt 'joy.' Yes I said JOY. In a time of not knowing what to say or how to react to tragedy, I found just acting with love for another is a giving and a receiving experience. To know for one moment in time that I totally forgot about me and said here I am for you (pure) and the expression of "thanks, I needed that" said without a word being passed is a purity that I can only equate with the birth of a new born baby (pure) or the emergence of spring (pure) to me it is an undefiled pure: JOY.

I encouraged the family to lean on family, friends, community, and God in the days, months, and years to come and one day the loss will be replaced hopefully by 'joy' in how so many were there for them in their time of need.

Enjoy each day and be filled with JOY.

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glendann wrote on Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:17 am:

I am so sorry for that family as I have been in those shoes twice and it has been many years and there is still heart break.No matter how long ago . Had it not been for God, friends and family I would not have made it.Thank you for being there for prayer as it does help give strength.Your a good friend.

kuntrygal wrote on Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:29 am:

I believe in times like this God gives us so much love and support. He enables us to find the words to pray, when we think we won't be able to find them. My heart goes out to this family. And my thoughts and thanks go to you for being there when that mother needed it the most. God bless all...

LilyPlanter77351 wrote on Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:37 am:

First I am so very sorry or your loss, your friend's and community's loss as well. I hope that God grants you all strength, comfort, understanding and eventually peace in this very difficult time.
I also want you to know what a great thing you are doing, it was people like you who helped me back in 2006 when my father was killed in a car accident. I was still living at home with him at the time and I came home from school to a note from a family friend asking me to come over asap. The love and support that they gave me made the hardest days of my life just a little easier and I'm glad that there were people willing to be there at a hard time. Your mention of prayer hit home, I know that I needed to be reminded that God was with me and that my father was with him. Please know that you and your community will be in our prayers. You may not know it, but people like you are angels among us.

Droopy wrote on Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:24 am:

I'm so sorry for your friends' loss. It's good to hear that you were able to be there for them and give your strength to support them. Please continue to do so, thoughtfulness and care is so precious to those affected.