We shall remember!

This was read to me today by a wonderful lady who came to talk to my mom, brother and me.  She is part of an organisation called The Compassionate Friends, and she has experienced the loss of a child herself.

It could have been written about my brother!

~~~

From a service conducted by Rev. Stephens for a young man who had died by his own hand.

“Our friend died on his own battlefield.  He was killed in action fighting a civil war.  He fought against adversaries that were as real to him as his casket is to us.  They were powerful adversaries.  They took toll of his energy and endurance.  They exhausted the last vestiges of his courage and strength.  At last these adversaries overwhelmed him.  And it appeared that he lost the war.  But did he?  I see a host of victories that he has won!

For one thing – he has won our admiration – because even if he lost the war, we give him credit for his bravery on the battlefield.  And we give him credit for the courage and pride and hope that he has used as his weapons as long as he could.  We shall remember not his death, but his daily victories gained through his kindness and thoughtfulness, through his love for his family and friends, for animals and books and music, for all things beautiful, lovely and honourable.  We shall remember not his last day of defeat, but we shall remember the many says that he was victorious over overwhelming odds.  We shall remember not the years we thought he had left, but the intensity with which he lived the years that he had.

Only G-d knows what this child of His suffered in the silent skirmishes that took place in his soul.  But our consolation is that G-d does know – and understands.”