Sunday, June 5, 2011

Unbearable grief

I have experienced grief, real grief, not the superficial heartache that we many times overreact to, but I've never experienced anything like the Anthony family is experiencing with this trial. I remember when the little girl was missing and they suspected that her mom was somehow involved. All of this happened the summer before Jason's death. At that time I had grieved the death of two sisters and both parents. I remember saying that although I missed them all, at least I had never lost a child. I couldn't imagine surviving the loss of a child. About the time of Jason's death, the details started coming out that connected the mom to the death of the child. I remember thinking then that there are things worse than death. I miss my son every day, but I don't think I could bear thinking that one of my children killed his or her own child. It would be bad to think that one of them could kill anyone, but to kill their own child--unbearable.
I have a morbid curiosity about this case. Every time I watch the news reports, I try to put myself in the place of that mother. Her heart was broken when her granddaughter was killed, but the torture that she is experiencing now is just beyond anything that I can imagine. I don't know if she is a woman of faith, but if she isn't, I hope there are people of faith reaching out to her.
My kids were heartbroken to lose their brother, but this week this woman's son is having to testify in a court of law for the prosecution that may lead to his sister's execution. She is having to hear that her daughter is now accusing her husband of sexual abuse. I know we overuse this phrase, but bless her heart.
I've heard over and over that a parent should never have to bury a child, and I agree, but what this family is experiencing should never happen either.
I'm going to pray for this family. The kind of comfort that they need can only come from God.

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