I found out today that an old friend of mine’s oldest son, an 18 year old, died in car crash on train tracks early this morning.

As a new mom I’m truly shocked, shattered, and devastated by this.

I live in a different city now and have been out of touch with her. I wish so much I could reach out or do something to help her but what could I possibly do or say that wouldn’t cause further hurt? How/when will she find happiness or feel whole again?

She’s a wonderful mom of four, two adopted. He was a sweet kind natured boy who always helped others and was so polite. This is so shockingly sudden and painfully unfair.

My little one is only 9 months. He was fighting a nap and I was letting him fuss. I saw the news on Facebook, cried a little, prayed a lot, collected myself and went and rocked him to sleep and held him and prayed over him and tried not to cry so he could keep sleeping on me. I’m going to invest so much time and care and compassion and love in him over the years and I hope to see him blossom and grow and I hope he lives long after me, long enough to see his grand children and great grandchildren. I can’t imagine either of us without the other because we are so tightly bonded right now!!!

Having children is such a huge gift and losing them is so hard to understand.

If you’re having a rough day, if your kids are exhausting you or driving you crazy...give it all up and just hug them tight, it’s a privilege. If you’re the praying sort, pray over them. If you’ve lost a child I am so incredibly sorry for the pain of that loss and wish there was something, anything, that could be said or done to help you or make you feel better.