Psalm 30:2 “ Lord my God, I called for you to help, and you healed me.”
Psalm 147:3 “ He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.”
Action to consider as you move forward: These times of Covid have been hard. Isolation has affected people in different ways. Use kind words and be gentle with people. You do not know the battles they may be fighting.
After being at home with his parents for 5 months, our son, Keaton was so happy to move into his new apartment and finish up his last semester at Oklahoma State. Everything was getting back to normal. On Saturday Keaton spent the day with good friends. They discussed how happy they were to be back together and they even discussed the semester and what the future would hold for them. Then, they went their separate ways for the evening. Keaton would go eat dinner and then go to another friend’s house to watch the Saturday night fights. Michael would go to eat with his girlfriend and then go meet up with Keaton. Keifer would go home and end his life.
Did we do something wrong? Could we have done more? Could we have saved him? Why would he do this? How did we not see this? These are the questions that I could not answer for Keaton.
Keifer was a social butterfly. Everyone loved him. He was the life of every party. He was so loved. Keaton would tell me all of the hours they spent having one on one conversations. Keifer never mentioned that he had considered suicide. Keaton never detected that anything was wrong at all. What we have all learned from this experience: Keifer had been isolated from friends and get- togethers and parties during these last 5 months. The people that he loved being around and that fed his soul were not there anymore. The stay at home order slowly took away what he needed- PEOPLE!
Love always- Love, love, love like you mean it to your bones. Love like you aren’t afraid of what people might think. Love like tonight might be the end of the rope for everyone you meet. Be someone’s safe place. Listen. Care. Smile. You do not know the internal battles people are facing. Even if you have had long talks with people and think you know them, you don’t. Sometimes we forget how many lives we have touched.
Keaton noticed all of the people who were affected by Keifer’s death. Fraternity brothers that had graduated came back to pay their respects, friends of friends, and even strangers showed up at the fraternity house for the candlelight vigil. The outpouring of love and support was overwhelming and it put a lot in perspective. Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love.
Even though we are isolated from each other, you are not alone. You are valued, you are worthy and most of all you are loved! Dear Heavenly Father, We pray for all of those that feel lonely. We pray for those that live alone and have been going without human contact. We pray for senior adults living in nursing homes, wondering when they will be able to see their loved ones again. We pray for children that miss their friends. Lord, we need you in these difficult days. Help us to remember that you are always there and we are never alone.
Amen.
Written By: Kim Cordell