Good morning…
“Hi Sue, I hope you are well,” wrote a friend from last year’s Sr. Moms Study.
“I have prayed over whether to share the news of this latest suicide with you. While mine and my family’s lives have been touched by several of the other incidents in our community, this one hits the closest to home. This young man’s father used to practice with my husband and our families were extremely close in what I tend to think of as the war zone years of toddlers. His mom and I got together often with the kids, we went out as couples, we grew a great friendship. Then as the kids got older and went on to different elementary schools in different parts of town, we naturally drifted apart. Still, we could spend ages catching up in the Costco aisle. Our hearts are breaking for this grieving family as they lay their son to rest today. Please pray for them. I don’t know what to say other than that.”
Reading through the obituary and other article written to honor this 2017 graduate from a neighboring high school, his “A+ seeming” life reminds me of an email I recently received from a friend who is a counselor.
“Dear Sue,” she wrote. “I am sad to hear of yet another suicide. We must begin to shout it from the rooftops of our schools and churches that it is OK to talk openly about anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, etc. Our schools and churches need to provide courses on these illnesses and places where students can unpack the stigma, pain and loads they are carrying. Sometimes these feelings can be normalized in a classroom when someone will not go for counseling.”
She continued: “I’ve always said to those with suicidal thoughts — ‘I cannot keep you from taking your life, but if you will stick around I can help you figure out a life worth living.'”
What an honest, encouraging response.
My therapist friend concluded her email expressing a belief I have wrestled with in prayer to a place of peace: “I believe God welcomes those who enter His gates through suicide just like everyone else. We are a broken people living in a broken world. We each must find our way to help these young people uncover hope in the midst of this brokenness, hope for living on this side of the grave.”
Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings (Galatians 6:2, GW).
…Sue…
