Death Part 2

So, my last post was about my view on Death..... Just hours before the horrific massacre in Connecticut. Bad planning on my part? Probably.

The nation is in mourning with hundreds of direct family members of the victims. Every time I see a flag at half mast my heart aches a little bit more. Each time I hear of a family laying these innocent people to rest, my heart aches even more.

It saddens my heart and sickens me that one person could be so evil and sick to take so many innocent lives.  I would almost say the tragedy is worse then 9/11.  Because America lost something precious that day in Connecticut. Children lost their innocence. No child should ever have to live through that. And now the survivors will remember that day for the rest of time and be haunted by it.  Also, America lost its future. One cliche is that our children are our future.  That day, we lost many great people who would make up the future.

I think of the parents of the children whose lives were lost.  Even though I am not a parent, but I long to  hold my own child in my arms, just like I am sure the parents of the slain children do. I feel like I can relate to them because we both can not fill an empty void in our hearts and in our arms. 

But then I think of how incredibly strong the parents and siblings must be. They lost someone innocent, and precious. I believe they are strong because  I would make the argument that they had to dig deep into their hearts and souls to find, and offer forgiveness for the mast murderer. I think without offering him, a complete psychopath, forgiveness, they would not be able to live in peace. Not offering someone forgiveness is just poisoning yourself, and you can not live in peace, happiness, and harmony without the constant use of forgiveness.

It is no secret that my favorite thing that I know is that Families Really Are Forever. The parents and siblings that are left behind will be able to embrace their lost loved ones again. I have wanted a Christmas Miracle, that Christ would allow the victims to raise from the dead, just like he raised the dead during his ministry. But that's not realistic, and pain is a part of our experience on earth.
I believe, and know, that every experience that we go through in this lifetime shapes us into a stronger person.

Death

So, one thing that been on my mind lately is death.

Today marks the 17th anniversary of the day that my sweet mother died.

Its also the first holiday season that the Kellogg Klan finds themselves without Grandpa. Because of this fact, it has been proven to be a very emotinally difficult holiday season, for me at least.

I have gotten a lot of questions regarding how I feel about death. I used to think it was incredibly sad. Now, my prespective has changed.

I don't think death is a sad event. I am glad the many loved ones I have lost are together, and they no longer suffer in pain, whether it be emotional, temporal, or pyshical pain.  They are simply now free.  Those that have passed, have fulfilled their purpose. They fulfilled their mission of what they were sent down to earth to do, and they were called home.

I think everyone needs something to look forward too.... and I simply look forward to the day where I will be reunited with all those who have gone before me.  I love the fact that families can be together forever. It brings me so much warmth, comfort, and happiness.