In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me

The act of taking one’s own life is so terribly shocking and usually unexpected. No two situations are the same.

Charles Whittlesey was a man of status. He had recieved the Medal of Honor as he had been the leader of the “Lost Battalion” in World War I. His unit had been trapped behind enemy lines.

When the tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated, Charles was chosen to serve as pallbearer for the first laid to rest there. Two weeks later it is presumed that he ended his own life by stepping off a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean.

On a local level, I had a friend in an exercise group tell me he had a grandson die by suicide one day before his 19th birthday. It was without any warning. I asked my friend if there was any kind of suicide note and he told me no. The young man was with his sister. He asked her to step back from the car so she wouldn’t get hurt. She had no idea of what he meant. When she stepped away he ended his life and that was it.

The young man’s father was quoted in the newspaper as “he didn’t think suicide could affect his family” and “he was a typical teenager”. The father added that his son was outgoing, loved to work on his pickup and running heavy equipment for a job he got after graduation. The family also noted that the young man’s outgoing and gregarious nature hid the causes of his suicide. They said, “He is not an introvert – you could take him anywhere and he’d find somebody to talk to”. The father added that when his son died, it was totally out of the blue and a total surprise.

This family has found a support group to be very helpful in dealing with the loss. In such a group one is surrounded by others who understand such grief. They add that there is something about sitting around a table where everyone is on the same page. The book “Understanding Your Suicide Grief” by Alan Wolfelt is also recommended.

The father made the great statement that “life is never easy after losing someone to suicide, but with support you can find the new you and keep going. Not only can you survive but you can go on to thrive.”

Above all, there is no assistance like tapping into God’s love. A Christmas card just reminded me that God loves us in two great events – Christ’s birth and His death on the cross.

Don’t give up if you find yourself dealing with the aftermath of suicide because God will help you find your way. Psalms 83:7 (KJV) says, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.”