Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Coming to grips

We got a phone call yesterday that they had found John's body. I can't explain how strange it feels to lose a friend so unexpectedly. It just doesn't seem fair or right that this should happen to someone so young with so much ahead of him. I have never experienced death close to me other than older family members who all died of cancer. A sudden death like this is something I've never gone through, and it has been hard emotionally and spiritually to try to make sense of it. We are certainly grieving for our friend. But more than that, I am so concerned for his wife Emily. I can't even imagine what she must be going through.

This experience has caused me to reflect on my life and how blessed I am. I appreciate Andrew more than I did a week ago, and I hope that I never take for granted the fact that we live such a wonderful life. Any trial we may face pales in comparison to losing a spouse.

The funeral will most likely be sometime later this week. There are still not many details worked out as the autopsy report hasn't been finished and the location of the funeral hasn't been announced yet. But we are definitely going to be there for it no matter where or when. I feel helpless with this--like there is nothing I can do to help. The least we can do is come and show our support to Emily and show how much we love John. To any of you who read this, please pray for Emily. She is suffering more than any of us combined in this situation. The fact that the Lord allowed this to happen to her says that she has great strength of character--the Lord knows she can handle it. However, it's not going to be easy for her. We love John, and we will never, ever forget him.

7 comments:

Angie said...

This has been so surreal and unsettling and tragic. We are all remembering John's wife and family in our prayers. I'm in total agreement with you Steph about not taking for grantid what we have and how lucky we are!

Melissa Andreasen said...

We had a nice weekend in Louisiana camping and when we came home to find out about all this, I was heartbroken. We weren't really friends but I had talked to Emily a few times when they moved into the ward. It really is the strangest feeling to have someone you know die like that. How grateful I am to have Ryan and Kiera standing here beside me at home, and for Eternity!

Unknown said...

Clay and I were talking and neither one of us has lost a loved one besides older relatives, so this whole experience has definitely been a new and devastating one. I'm heartbroken for Emily, I can't even imagine. Yesterday we looked through all of our photos with John and it was so good to remember all our great memories with him. He will definitely be remembered. I'm graduating this weekend and have family coming out, so Clay will probably be the only one going to the funeral, once the details are arranged for that. I too have been appreciating Clay and people in general much more.

Ali said...

It's so evident by the many tributes I've seen/read that John was an incredible person. I love what you said about his wife and the type of character she has. Your families have my prayers and sincere condolences. You just feel helpless... really, I wish I could do something. That picture you posted is great. You probably are aware of Val's connection with his family? These small world connections always amaze me.

Lisa said...

I did not know John and his family, but they sound like such wonderful people. Please accept my deepest sympathy. I'm so very sorry. His wife is in my prayers.

Christine Niemann said...

I never met John and Emily, but we are friends of his sister Julie and completely love their family. Emily will always be in our prayers...
We take some comfort in knowing that this loss of John is only for a short time in our eternal existence.

Christine Niemann said...

We are friends of John's sister, Julie, and love their family so very much. It is tragic what has occurred and my heart truly breaks for Emily. She will always be in our prayers...
We take some comfort in knowing this is only for a moment in our eternal existence.