Who can explain?

Sometimes it is impossible to explain why things happen the way they do. I could talk about slipping on the ice and breaking three ribs the week before Christmas. Who can explain why I spent a week fooling around with the Christmas decorations, and hadn't done any shopping before I fell? Or I could ask for someone to explain why it hurts so much? Who can explain why a Deputy Sheriff robbed a store to get the same pain pills the doctor had prescribed for me and which Phyllis had just picked up from Kaiser - they only cost 10 cents each [basically a codeine/tylonol combination]?

These aren't really what I want to ask about. Yesterday Phyllis' sister called to tell us that her estranged adult son had been shot 2 days before Christmas and died instantly. No he wasn't in Iraq. No it was not gang related. He had a gun which he wanted to sell and was showing it to a buyer. You guessed it, he was killed by an "empty gun." All of a sudden my broken ribs seemed awfully unimportant. No matter how strained the relationship, a mother should not lose her child this way.

Who can explain why we let relationships get so messed up, when we love each other? Why can't we just mend the hurts? Why can't we just let our pride go and take those steps so needed to bring us together with those we've somehow hurt, or who have probably unwittingly hurt us? To grieve a child who has died is beyond what I can imagine. To grieve one who has been taken by a stupid mistake would be even harder, but to lose a child who had an issue with you, knowing it will never be resolved, must be about the worst thing that can happen to a parent.

I know, both must be willing. --- We have good friends whose 13 year old granddaughter has run away -- she's been brought home several times, but runs as soon as she can get out the door. Emily, I know you will probably not read this, but this is what I would like to say to you. "No matter what has happened either at home or elsewhere, this is not worth the pain to you or your family. Even though they may not know how to show it, you will never know a love like that of your parents. Please for the sake of your Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus come home. Try to make things right. If anything should happen to you or them, the pain and regrets will never leave the survivors." God, help her understand.

Who can explain? Help me understand.

Such a short time.

I was reading my daughter Kristi's latest blog, and suddenly I was caught in a time warp. She was lamenting the fact that her preschool daughter, Trinity, would be going to school all day beginning next month. Has it really been that long since Kristi started kindergarten? They didn't have much preschool then. It seems such a short time. I was transported back to my first day in school. It was the first grade, since kindergarten did not even exist back then. I could see the kids and the teacher, observe the classroom arrangement, even the books on the shelves under the windows, and smell the classroom odors. There was a door between our room and the other first grade classroom. The door opened and they brought a kid from the other room to ours - I felt sorry for him because he had gone to the wrong room on his first day of school, and we had already started class. Everybody was looking at him and he looked like he wanted to cry. I have always felt sorry for the underdog, but that is a different story. I remember how oblivious I was to so many things as I went through my elementary years, and then what a trouble maker I was in Junior High. Then I was graduating from High School, then college followed by the Masters Degree. It was such a short time. I watched Kristi go from kindergarten through the pain of Junior and Senior High, and then she was marching across the stage to get her Master Degree. It was such a short time. I've watched Jeff go through all of the steps, and now he is working on his Master Degree. It has been such a long time!!! Just kidding, Jeff. Suddenly I could see Trinity marching across to get her Doctorate, and it will be such a short time. I hope I will be around to see it, but life is such a short time. Eternity is such a long time - I hope to share it with you.