RandaGray

I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that you have other friends and family that you can grieve with and that can give you comfort. Take Care,
Mary

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Blake. It makes it even harder at Christmas time to I think. My prayers go out for him, his family and friends. Things happen in mysterious was. It sounds like the world lost a good person, but he is now in a better place. God Bless...

Thank you... to me he was one of the best. The only thing that helps is to know he's in Heaven.

Take heart my distant friend. He lives, just assuredly as Christ rose from the tomb. I do not know your faith, but in mine we know that families are forever and that friendships exist from pre-mortal life into eternity. You WILL see him again. He is indeed in heaven looking down on you and praying to God to ease your pain. He knows you love him and that you care about his family - I'm sure that is a comfort to him. Please remember, he is not alone in a dark place - his body is dust, but what is "him" is his soul. He is with his family and friends who have gone before, and he is with our Heavenly Father who is comforting him. Blake will be there for those yet to pass beyond the veil of mortality to lead them into the light and to the throne of God. He is now a ministering angel.

It is one of life's greatest struggles to understand why young good people die. Some say "God's will" and others "that's life". I believe that God lets things happen and helps us deal - good or bad. That through experiences He is making us a stronger more perfect soul, for that is His work and His glory (and His joy) to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Turn to God and ask for comfort. Remember the Holy Spirit is also known as the "comforter" and your Heavenly Father wants to send him to you to ease your pain so, ask of Him and you shall receive it. For James taught "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. (James 1:6)".

You are Loved and I pray God will help you heal. And I pray His Spirit will be with Blake's family in these dark days.

We all live in the palm of God's hand. It's so hard to understand this grief. I don't understand the blessings either.

Thank you all... I knew someone here would here would have something to say that would help. I really believe this is the most understanding group of people I've ever "met" :) I do believe he is with God now, & that helps more than I can explain. It is purely a selfish thing that I want him back... I know that.... But I can't help it - I don't suppose anyone can help wanting a person they lost to be back with them. Today, with two inches of snow on the ground & more coming (odd for Alabama) is the funeral. Blake hated winter.... It's kind of fitting that he'd leave us on the coldest day of the year. He always joked about running away to somewhere it'd never get cold. Guess he did it. Again, thank you for your kind words, & thank you for letting me vent things I couldn't communicate to the people around me.

RandaGray I hold out my hand to squeeze yours, and both arms for a big hug. Our daughter was 25. God is in charge. And you need to let your feelings out in order to heal. Things will get better____in time. It's been ten years now and her brother finally put her huge and pricey collection of snoopy and his friends on e-bay. During the family Christmas I handed each grandchild, brother and sister an envelope marked from Michele with the sale results. Vent all you need to. It's part of the healing process.

Thank you Jam... I can't imagine losing a child... It takes a stronger person than me to get through something like that. I admire your apparently strong faith :)

Ask, and it shall be given to you. Ask for the strength to carry on an accept what has happened. I tell myself often 'how would she want you to carry on!! Not grieving, not unhappy. Remember Blake and all the good things about him.

I remember her hearty laugh, great sense of humor, brilliant ability in college, kindness and caring for all, working in a Nun's retirement house to finally get through nurses training,

and forget the if onlys!! If someone had been there or found her sooner this wouldn't have happened. She had diabetes and got to low and passed out. She failed to report for work the next evening. The following afternoon a friend tried to reach her on her phone and she didn't answer so she went to her apartment and found her.

Talk about a mom on a guilt trip!! We attended a wedding the day she apparently died. I was partying and my daughter was dead.

Sure, she never had a wedding, a family or grandchildren. She wasn't supposed to. Somehow she had completed the job she was here to do. But let me tell you I have a few questions that need an answer someday. I to was angry at God early-on. How could he let such a thing happen. But His plans are best and someday maybe it will all fall in place.

Now you've got me venting again!! Hope this helps a little. jam

My thoughts will be with you as you struggle through the next few days. Please know that we all are supporting you, understand your grief, and are sending you warm wishes. You will smile again, maybe not right away and not as often at first, maybe even a little lop sided!

Hugs to you,
Melanie

Jam, go right ahead & spill it girl.... What's happening to me isn't the same, but I certainly understand the need to "run your mouth" as my father so delicately puts it...
picotsnkeys, thank you... Jam was right when she said he wouldn't want me to be sad & that he'd want me to remember the good times instead of the loss. Just so happens that remembering the good times makes me realize even more that there won't be anymore of those. Not with him. I suppose we have to have bad times to make us appreciate the good ones. Life will go on, no matter how bad it seems at the moment.
And now I think I'm going to hug my little girl.... She gives kisses & smiles that make the sun shine. Toddlers are a true gift. Last night she said "wuv my mamana best" & ran to her bedroom. Those were happy tears.

I am sorry for your loss. Yes, it doesn't make sense, and I can relate to that. But, a little thinking outside "the box" - outside the restrictions of time as we know it here. From the viewpoint of eternal happiness, this time we spend here on the planet is very small, even if we live to be 110. All the earthly joys we have here can't compare to what God has prepared in heaven. So, please don't worry that your friend missed out on anything - God made him and knows what makes him perfectly happy.

The other problem is the struggles of the family left behind. Hopefully, this will bring out the good in friends and neighbors as they offer help.

My sincere sympathy.

Marilee

Thank you Marilee ....
I want to thank you all again for all the kindness shown to me here. This is a truly wonderful group of people.

And now I think I'm going to hug my little girl.... She gives kisses & smiles that make the sun shine. Toddlers are a true gift.

See, you are already taking a step in the right direction. Just one step at a time and eventually you will get there.

The loss of a loved one at the holidays seems to make it harder on the living. Blake is in a better place, for reasons we do not know and cannot understand. We the living suffer. He spirit or soul no does not linger in the flesh, but goes to a different plane of existence. I believe it is NOT a dark place. Rejoice in the wonderful life Blake led and to pleasure and joy he gave to those that he love and the people who loved him.