Last week an accident occurred
that took the life of a ten year old boy.
He was killed in a skidding accident where he was helping his father.
My heart has been heavy ever
since I talked with my son yesterday. He
learned more about the incident that killed the young son of Wendy’s
employee. There is going to be great
turmoil within that family and accusations made against the father for his
carelessness – if not already, they need our prayers.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all
comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all
our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,
by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of
God.
5 For as the sufferings of
Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by
Christ.
There comes a time when we are
all tested, when the terrors of this world come crashing down upon us. To some of us it is a relative easy thing to
overcome – it may take a while, but it is something that, while coming to us in
the o-dark-thirty hours we can combat with the reminder that God has forgiven
and is in control.
Then there are those that suffer
such a calumnious experience that the pain and suffering seems eternal. There is no way to ‘get away’ from the
history of that incident.
I have investigated crimes where
the victim is scarred from the attack. I
have investigated accidents where the victims are maimed and lose function of
one kind or another in their ability to do things. All are life changing, it is difficult, not
only for the victim but their family and friends.
The most difficult times for all
involved is when a child is the victim and even more so when the child is
killed. Now, add to that the fact that a
caring parent, who loved the child, who was ‘bonding with him,’ for want of a
better term, whose carelessness caused the accident that resulted in the death
of his child.
The parents are Christian, they
belong to a body of believers that have and will continue to rally around
them. They will have their burdens
shared by this family of Christians – so it is ‘easy’ to say that they will be
fine.
Those of us that are Christians
know better. Yes, the comforter is there
for them. Yes, they can lean on Him and
have His loving arms surround them. Yes,
they are so much better off than parents who do not know Christ and do not have
the assurance that their son is with Him.
Yes, they are better off because they have faith in Christ and His
mercies.
But......
They are people. Living in this world. Subject to satan’s wiles and trouble making
powers – and may be under greater attack because of their faith in God.
Right now they are in shock, and
grieving. I do not know if there is
recrimination against the father for his carelessness, yet. But it is going to come. He is going to remember every minute of that
accident. Satan is going to hammer him
with guilt every chance he gets. He will
feel the pain of the indictments of others, real or perceived – a glance, a
remark even if made without even referring to the death will strike at his
heart.
He is either going to grow
stronger in Christ or he is going to fold and while our relationship with God is
individual, our need for support is universal and he needs to be remembered in
prayer, not just today, but on a regular basis for the rest of his life.
The wife is going to feel
resentment and anger because her husband placed her son in a position where he
was killed. Does it matter that they are
both Christians? Absolutely, it is going
to help her deal with that pain and forgiving of her husband, but satan will use
this incident to drive a wedge between them and will strive all he can to
continually cause her pain and anguish.
What some people forget is just
because we are Christians does not mean that we are not vulnerable. In some ways it is going to be more difficult
for her because she is a Christian. When
these accusations come at her she is going to feel guilty because she feels that
anger.
Satan is going to be working on
this family for years. I have seen
families destroyed by these kinds of incidents – both Christian and
non-Christian. Many times it comes
several years after the incident – it festers and causes a cancer that cannot be
eradicated except by the Grace of God.
BUT, I have also seen growth in
the relationship between the parents, a mutual understanding and love that
abounds from the love of Christ. May
this be true with these two.
Satan is brutal. He doesn’t care what he does to injure others
as long as he thinks he is injuring God.
But, the Holy Spirit is truly the comforter and His loving arms can
shield them from these things if they allow it.
I cannot imagine the pain these
two and their families are going through, I can only pray that they continue to
focus on Christ and allow Him to guide them in their grief now, and for the rest
of their lives.
Please join me in regular
prayers for these people.
Later, Art
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