Doesn't Get Much Harder Than This

Losing a student/child.

Thursday night a a 13 year old boy died. He was a very sweet, loving, excited about like, thankful, hyper kid. His death is probably one of the most shocking things ever. There is no why. It’s a tragic lose. Simple as that. A tragedy.

Tonight at youth group we payed tribute to him.
We took 800 candles, spelled out his name and lite them. It was good.
The circumstances and reasons aren’t but the experience was. Students who had been holding back from grieving felt safe and mourned. Several told us that it was what they needed. A viewing or funeral can’t do what tonight did for them. The setting, the comfort, the beauty.
Being able to sit on the gym floor praying for for his family while looking at his name in flames was so comforting. I cried. It was good. My youth pastor puts it this way … along these lines “We’re supposed to mourn. Jesus wept. We should weep as well. Its good for us becuase it is how we are made to handle things. God did not make us to move on, ignore, or search for reasons for closure.” At times like this we need Him. The same as always but most people try to find comfort in other things. Food, movies, reasons for why?, sleep, busyness. God is what helps. The only comfort that helps. Thirty students showed me this once again tonight.