I am participating in the 31 Days of Free Writes October challenge. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation. (Confession: I *may* not be able to resist spell-checking!)
Today’s prompt: TELL
Checking my social media almost the minute I wake up may not be the best practice in the world, but it’s what I do.
This morning, a friend on Twitter told me that there had been a shooting in Las Vegas overnight, leaving 20 (? — story still developing) people dead including the shooter, many injuries, and a city scared to death.
Someone will now have to tell 20+ families that their loved one has passed away.
Telling a family that a loved one has passed away has been on my mind lately — after my in-law’s house was almost completely emptied out Thursday so a new tenant can move in, I was standing in an empty room surrounded by happy AND sad memories.
I remember walking in with Wayne and my sister-in-law the day we had to tell my in-laws that my brother-in-law had died, having committed suicide.
While I am tempted to write about “telling” in another from — discernment — as in being able to tell the right course of action in any given situation, the more literal version is at the forefront of my thinking today.
As the reporters tell me the details, my mind and heart are focused on the emotions and the fact that the families’ lives are going to change forever. It is a ministry, the telling of the hardest news, that demands discernment.
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
It’s been a hard day! I’m numb and weary! Las Vegas. Finding out a seminary friend/colleague died this am. Sounds like it was a massive heart attack. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.
Yes, a very hard day. I am so sorry to hear about your friend, Tara. I will keep his family (and you) in my prayers.