Monday, October 16, 2006

Heaven

O Divine master, grant that I may not so much
Seek to the consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Frances of Assissi


A friend of my son Joseph, John, was hit by a drunk driver Saturday night and was killed. He was 17. His passenger, Sarah, is also a friend of Joseph's, but she is alive with only cuts and bruises. The driver, a senior girl also from his Catholic high school, was uninjured. She was a soccer teammate of my daughter Rachael's best friend. All concerned are devastated, particularly John's family and friends.

My son is understandably upset. I was particularly disturbed to see, this morning, 3 news crews camped out across the street from the high school at 7:15 AM! Joseph and his friends were not allowed to decorate John's locker, as they had planned, in memory, because the administration did not want the site "turned into a shrine". There was a prayer service held for the students today, and John's parents attended.


I cannot begin to imagine their grief. The news media was not allowed on school property. The funeral will be Wednesday. I am taking the day off to attend with my teenagers. It so easily could have been one of them.

Please remember John and Sarah's families in your prayers, as well as the girl whose life has changed forever. My heart goes out to her as well.

6 comments:

yorksdevil said...

Why is always the one who causes the problem who comes out best? I've no tolerance for drunk driving, it's no secret how dangerous it is but people still do it.

Is the age for drinking 21 in your state? I can't help but feel this banning of alcohol for the young instead of teaching sensible drinking does nothing to help.

Distant Timbers Echo said...

I'm terribly sorry for their loss. I lost a friend in school also. I'm not surprised the school won't let any "shrines" go up. I hate that. When my friend died, they allowed us to decorated the whole dang school with yellow ribbons and what not.

That's really too bad. I hope your son feels better soon, and your entire town is in my prayers right now.

Anonymous said...

My thoughts are with you all.

Times like this should remind everyone that tougher laws are needed for drunk driving. Every time I hear about someone getting caught for the fourth or fifth time, I wonder how many possible lives might have been lost.

Tricia said...

This post brought back terrible memories for me. As a junior in high school - a friend of mine was killed by a drunk driver. It was 5 days before his 17th birthday.

I was dating the driver of the car they were in. By the time we graduated, he had to have 5 plastic surgeries.

It was the worst moment of my life.

That is why I am anti-drinking/driving. I will not tolerate this behavior. I already warned my husband that if he ever gets a dui - not to call here - or come home.

sorry for the rant - this just brought back to many memories. My mother did not go with me to the funeral. I don't think she knew what to do...you are a good mom.

sunShine said...

You all are in my thoughts and prayers. I am sorry that it had to be anyone that was killed or injured but I am thankful that it was not one of your children. I do not know how parents cope when something like that happens. Death is such a hard thing at any age. but especially for such senseless reasons. I will be praying for y'all.

Shooter said...

How awful. I will keep them all in my prayers, including your family as they have been affected as well.

It is so sad the gried that teenagers have to deal with these days.