Psalm 103:11-17: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust. As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. Very recently, a young lady affiliated with several students on my collegiate soccer team took her own life. The team and I have been talking a lot about the meaning behind her death and the so very tragic nature of this act. One of my players, a goalkeeper, was her best friend since first grade. She is struggling to see the future without her friend. She does not believe, right now, that she will know pure happiness again. She sees the future filtered by her loss. At the same time, as the team and I listen to our goalkeeper grieve for her dear friend, we are being told a wonderful story. It is a story about a young woman who made incredible contributions to her community and her school before she passed. We are listening to stories about a little girl who was a great friend and she is becoming very real to us. The story of this wonderful, but clearly sad young lady is becoming everlasting. At some point, my players and I will think about her a little less each day. I believe that my goalkeeper knows that she needs to ponder this passing less, and yet, she is not ready for that. Later, as she does give herself permission to get on with her own life, I am convinced that she will be able to tell a wonderful story full of meaning and grace – a story that is everlasting and important. She was a flower of the field and she is gone, but our memory of her is everlasting. Heather L
Posted on: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 01:04:03 +0000