Heart Break

This past weekend was extremely difficult.

* After a long and brave fight, a beautiful young woman named Taylor, lost her battle with cancer.
She was a classmate of One's. She should be enjoying a life at college. While I did not know Taylor personally, her father is The Kid's teacher. This man, returns my son to me each afternoon, inspired and enthusiastic about his day at school. That alone, tells me enough about the character of this family. They are Good People. And their loss must feel crippling.

* My brother suffered the very worst weekend, in his ongoing struggle with schizophrenia. Our nightmare escalated to a frenzied and desperate place. At this moment, he is at the hospital with my father. Hopefully, being admitted for a successful rehabilitation. I fear he may be gone for some time.

While many may be unable to see the connection between these two heart wrenching events... they feel unbearably similar, this evening. When God gifts a mother and father, with their precious child, their arms immediately reach to pull the new warm bundle into their hearts. Your first instinct of protection is primal.
A mother immediately thanks God, while simultaneously praying that He helps her, to keep this child whole and well. Unfortunately, answering that prayer is completely unrealistic. Their knees will scrap, their hearts will break, their bellies will ache...
And then, sometimes the beautiful bodies the mother had once created, will break beyond repair. And no matter the reason, the parent instinctively wishes to hold their grown baby, to their heart. As if, a parent's love will be strong enough to heal any ailment.

This weekend, families are in pain. For each of those families, I am Tru-ly sorry. But through the overwhelming misery, I have witnessed a small town unite. In our time of need, we were able to turn to several, whom stopped their lives to help us. Their contributions, no matter how small, were great and significant to my family. Your kindness, has etched a special spot in our hearts.

A sweet suggestion circulated, to remember Taylor. We were asked to light one candle on our front porch tonight. This was the perfectly appropriate manner to have my son, understand and share in the loss..

To every parent, whom has held their child as they suffered. Who has watched their baby's future fade away. Who has unwillingly surrendered their child, to a plan greater than their own: I can not imagine.
My thoughts are with you.



And now,
I'm glad I didn't know the way it all would end
the way it all would go.
And our lives are better left to chance.
I could have missed the pain,
but I'd have had to miss the dance.

Yes, my life is better left to chance.
I could have missed the pain,
but I'd have had to miss the dance