There are certain experiences that happen in life that change you completely.

One of these events is when my dear friend’s child, Katie, drowned in a neighbor’s pool one hot night on June 25, 2005.

I’ve written before about this heartbreak, but I can’t say enough how the shock, pain and grief enveloped us all close to the family after that day.

Actually, I think we all altered our view of each day because for the first time at least in my life, I realized how precious each moment was.

Of course, I’m just a friend, living in a distant city.  I did not have to endure the daily loss that my dear friends have had to suffer.  Their bereavement has been with them every moment and breath they have taken since that horrific evening.

Although life has gone on for the last eight years (and there have been some great times), it has not proceeded for anyone close to Katie without pain, hurt, damage and heartache.

Her death was when I first realized that as humans, our understanding is limited to this world and the control is out of our hands. WOW, that stinks sometimes!!!

Honestly, death makes no sense to me.  I don’t like it and I don’t want to do it.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 1Thessalonians 4:13

Of course, I believe in God and His son, Jesus Christ, but I still don’t want to go through grief, loss and pain that death brings!

In fact, I’d really like to climb the stairway to Heaven along with all of my close family and friends!!!!

I’m not nearly as afraid of death as I used to be because not only am I confident in my afterlife through Jesus Christ, but I now have some dear people to meet me, including Katie, my dad and my dear friends, Stephen and Susan.

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8

When I put death into perspective, I understand that this life is a gift and I’ve got plenty to do in the meantime to serve my Heavenly Father as He wants by using the gifts and talents He gave to me.

I do wish I could explain why children die or why other’s die in their prime, but I just can’t.  I also wish I could say words of encouragement to those who are in pain due to loss, but again, I can’t.

Having lost my own father since Katie’s passing, I can once again recognize that life is short and we all have to endure pain and suffering in the meantime.

The true challenge is what we do when the tragedy happens to us.  Do we crumble and fall or do we cling to the Lord to give us the strength and courage to go on?

The best thing I can do for myself and others is to pray that God provides for each of us and is the light for which we travel towards.

Certainly, I still get sad when I think of Katie and those others who have died, but I am comforted to know that we will see them again and that life is meant to be lived and not for sitting on the sidelines wishing bad things didn’t happen.

So, in honor of Katie’s life on the anniversary of her death today, please pray for each other.  You never know what someone else is truly going through and your prayer could be the only one being prayed for them today!

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 14:32 – The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.