Three years ago today, on River Styx Road, a former classmate of mine by the name of Katherine Babak and two of her other friends were hit head-on by a drunk driver, killing Katherine instantly and severely injuring her two friends. Katherine would be a sophomore in college today, so as I prepare to enter college in the fall, my heart can't stop hurting and thinking about her and her family.
I just found out today that another tragic accident occured on River Styx Road. A tree fell on an SUV that claimed the life of the mother of two kiddos at my daycare. My heart is absolutley broken for these sweet kids, the older of the two having lost his father at a young age.
Why does life seem to be so cruel? A 16-year-old dying, a 10-year-old having to grow up without a mother and father, and a 1-year-old who will not remember her mother.
If only we knew when our time is coming to an end.
I am not directly linked to Katherine or to the mother who died. I knew of Katherine, as we were in two classes together at my former high school and I probably saw the kids' mom in passing as I was busy chasing kids around a daycare.
I don't know why God would allow things like this to happen, we have all faced some form of tragedy in our lives, and it is extremely unfortunate that it happens. However, the tragedy we face does not determine our worth. The sadness we encounter does not deter or lessen God's Unfailing Love for all of us. He has a plan despite the pain in our lives. He is going to use what happened to those kiddos as something beyond our understanding. We may not know now or how it is going to happen, but God does. I pray for great things to come out of the healing process for these kids, as well as the Babak family.
I think that without tragedy, we forget to realize how precious life is. How we are merely a flicker of light that can flicker or lose its brightness rather quickly. Through the pain and the trials, we learn how to keep the candle going, to lose our light but to find a way to reignite it, making it brighter than before.
I ask that if you do pray, that you would read aloud the following prayer that I am about to write, or say a prayer of your own.
Father,
You hold the world in Your Hands.
We don't know many things, but we do know that you are faithful.
You don't let anything happen to us that You have not seen the outcome of.
I pray, God, for the Cook family, who now has to bury a wife, a sister, a mother, a friend, all too soon.
For her son, who has now lost both of his parents and is still in elementary school.
For her sweet little baby girl, that has to grow up without a mother as well.
For the boy's step-father and the girl's father, that he may be blessed and guided along this painful time and be there and present for his kids during this time.
I pray for the grieving process to begin and for support for the entire family.
I pray also, God, for the Babak family, who on this day three years ago, lost a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I pray for her friends who were injured in the accident, that although this day is a terrible reminder of what happened, that they may experience positive growth from it.
This is tragic, but as a wise man once told me, in all things, Jesus is trustworthy.
I ask all of these things in Your Precious Son Jesus's Name,
Amen.
I just found out today that another tragic accident occured on River Styx Road. A tree fell on an SUV that claimed the life of the mother of two kiddos at my daycare. My heart is absolutley broken for these sweet kids, the older of the two having lost his father at a young age.
Why does life seem to be so cruel? A 16-year-old dying, a 10-year-old having to grow up without a mother and father, and a 1-year-old who will not remember her mother.
If only we knew when our time is coming to an end.
I am not directly linked to Katherine or to the mother who died. I knew of Katherine, as we were in two classes together at my former high school and I probably saw the kids' mom in passing as I was busy chasing kids around a daycare.
I don't know why God would allow things like this to happen, we have all faced some form of tragedy in our lives, and it is extremely unfortunate that it happens. However, the tragedy we face does not determine our worth. The sadness we encounter does not deter or lessen God's Unfailing Love for all of us. He has a plan despite the pain in our lives. He is going to use what happened to those kiddos as something beyond our understanding. We may not know now or how it is going to happen, but God does. I pray for great things to come out of the healing process for these kids, as well as the Babak family.
I think that without tragedy, we forget to realize how precious life is. How we are merely a flicker of light that can flicker or lose its brightness rather quickly. Through the pain and the trials, we learn how to keep the candle going, to lose our light but to find a way to reignite it, making it brighter than before.
I ask that if you do pray, that you would read aloud the following prayer that I am about to write, or say a prayer of your own.
Father,
You hold the world in Your Hands.
We don't know many things, but we do know that you are faithful.
You don't let anything happen to us that You have not seen the outcome of.
I pray, God, for the Cook family, who now has to bury a wife, a sister, a mother, a friend, all too soon.
For her son, who has now lost both of his parents and is still in elementary school.
For her sweet little baby girl, that has to grow up without a mother as well.
For the boy's step-father and the girl's father, that he may be blessed and guided along this painful time and be there and present for his kids during this time.
I pray for the grieving process to begin and for support for the entire family.
I pray also, God, for the Babak family, who on this day three years ago, lost a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I pray for her friends who were injured in the accident, that although this day is a terrible reminder of what happened, that they may experience positive growth from it.
This is tragic, but as a wise man once told me, in all things, Jesus is trustworthy.
I ask all of these things in Your Precious Son Jesus's Name,
Amen.