It’s 2:48 a.m. I’ve been trying to go to sleep since around eleven. Can’t sleep; keep praying for someone I don’t know. If you’ve read my last couple blogs you’ve had the privilege of meeting my daughter Shyloh. Yesterday the darkness Shyloh thought she left behind reached out its knife and pieced her soul. An acquaintance from her school attempted suicide. The tangled knots Shyloh wrote about seem to be too much for some and they try to escape.
Details are purposely omitted and may be added at a later date, but let it suffice to say a freshman girl from Lakeville Minnesota and her family are broken tonight and could use your prayers and the Lord’s healing and comfort. The family will ride the emotional roller coaster steep with pain filled with whys and curved sharp and hard with guilt.
My daughter sat quiet most of the day untangling the questions in her soul. But one knot was tough. She wrestled with it but couldn’t seem to find a place to grab and work it free. Her voice was quiet and kind-of shaky when she asked.
“Dad, if a person commits suicide do they go to hell?”
Now I was the one who wrestled with the knot. Silently I waited as I asked The One Wiser than I about how to answer this tender young lady.
A religious self righteous self holier than thou voice said, “Well your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and thou shalt not murder and if you kill it’s a sin and…”
But The Still Small Voice said otherwise.
A snap-shot of people leaping from a burning tower on 9-11 appeared in my mind and I listened to these words cross my lips.
“Do you remember 911 when people jumped from the towers to escape the pain of being burned to death?”
Shyloh nodded.
“Sometimes people think life is like that burning building and the only way to avoid the pain is to escape from it… Only God knows the conditions of a persons’ heart and the trauma they’re in. God is good and He will judge accordingly…”
We talked about alot of other things and the signs that usually but not always accompany suicide attempts and what we can do to help. For now, I just want to thank you for praying for this young girl and her family and many - too many others like them.
Lord God Of All Comfort we humbly ask for you to do what only you can do and bring life out of death light out of darkness and bring health and healing in body, soul and spirit to this family. Thank you, In Jesus Holy Name we pray, Amen.
Following are some contacts of your or someone you know needs help:
http://suicidehotlines.com/national.html
USA National Suicide Hotlines
Toll-Free / 24 hours / 7 days a week
1-800-SUICIDE Hope line
1-800-784-2433
1-800-273-TALK Suicide Prevention Life Line
1-800-273-8255
TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)
3 comments:
...amen. praying for that family and for yours as well.
I hope I remember that answer for the next time I hear that question asked ...
My mind raced as I was reading your words, I went from judgemental Christian all the way back to "it's a matter of the heart" just about the same time you did. Maybe I'll be mature enough next time an incident arrives with my daughters to stop and ask God for guidance as you have. Easier said than done. Maybe God is opening a door for your daughter, she obviously has a heart like her dad.
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