What can you say to someone who has lost a child? What words are there to comfort someone who is living through such a nightmare? I can't begin to fathom the heartache as a parent.
In the wee hours of Monday morning, a high school friend of my husband's received the devastating news that no parent wants to hear. His oldest daughter, a beautiful, blond-haired, 20 year-old girl named Mary-Kathryn was killed in a tragic accident. She and her boyfriend had apparently gathered with some others along the side of an interstate highway in Northern Virginia to watch a street race. One of the drivers lost control and hit a parked vehicle, ramming it into Mary-Kathryn and her boyfriend, killing them both.
Soon after we got the news that afternoon, my own two daughters were fighting with each other and treating each other so hatefully. It nearly made me sick to my stomach as I thought about Mary-Kathryn. Life is too short and fleeting to waste time and energy on ugliness and fighting. If only we could all remember to treat others in ways that build up, rather than tear down, to show respect and kindess and love rather than contempt and meanness. I would hate to suddenly depart this life tomorrow if anything I've said or done today has hurt or offended. There's no guarantee we'll get the time or opportunity to make apologies or amends.
Obviously, I have been praying for Mary-Kathryn's family as they cope with this tragedy and if you are reading this, I hope you will too. Let me also challenge you to join me in praying that we would all strive to make a positive difference or contribution of some sort each day for the Kingdom of God. Even if you never see the results of your efforts in this life, trust that the eternal rewards will all be worth it.
"He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
(1 Thessalonians 5:10-11)
No comments:
Post a Comment