My best friend killed himself yesterday evening. He had been having marital problems, and had recently begun divorce proceedings. He leaves behind his wife and 2 children.
Right now we're feeling pretty rotten. It seems like a horrible nightmare that'll pass, but of course it won't. It's so unreal...
If you can send your prayers and positive energy this way for him, his family, and his friends, it would be greatly appreciated.
I always hear people say that God will never give you a burden greater than you can bear, but maybe that's not true. It certainly wasn't for him.
I'm sorry to hear this, Joe. It must be very tough losing your best friend. Your adage about God, is one of those sayings, like
"God helps those who help themselves" that, while quaint, doesn't always play out in real life. I think the adage comes from a New Testament verse in Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make
the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
There usually always is a way of escape, but many times circumstances can completely overwhelm us, suspending rational thought and making death seem like a quick remedy for our troubles. Also, the verse takes into consideration that the individual is one who would take their problem to God and pray fervently for the escape route to be made plain. Unfortunately human beings are complex and a random suicidal thought could be construed as an "Aha" moment and tragically acted upon.
My prayer is for your friend's family. They're obviously numb with grief (despite the impending divorce) and shock, especially the children. I pray that they can eventually come to realize that this is in no way their fault, that their father loved them, and that he had such a heavy burden on his heart that he felt ending his life was the only solution.
I've also prayed for you, his friend, that you can come to terms with the death of your friend and be a tower of strength -- not only for your family but for your friend's family as well.
Life often does not make sense, especially when the brutal side shows up. I was speaking this morning with my Pastor about the brutal side of Christmas. TV shows us the sound bite, snap-shot perfect, happy family, tells us the number of shopping days left until and wants us to believe that
“It’s a Wonderful Life”. But that isn’t always the case. And, while I plan on having a Merry Christmas with my wife and children, Jesus was born into a situation of political corruption, deceit and the murder, by a jealous King Herod, of every two year old and under boy in Bethlehem (in an attempt to kill Jesus), while Joseph and Mary escaped with their lives into Egypt, where they remained until Herod died. The grief of the mothers left behind must have been a collective wail such that words could not express. Not that we should dwell upon the negative...but those were the circumstances on that first Christmas.
I hope and pray you will be to have a nice Christmas with your family, despite this tragedy that has shaken your world during a season that’s supposed to be joyous. Perhaps you can think of a fitting gesture for your friend’s children, or have them over if appropriate, so that you can offer them some degree of comfort in their loss. May God grant you the wisdom and courage to face this situation and be strong for those in your life who now need a soft heart and a listening ear.
