I write tonight with a very heavy heart as some friends of ours from California lost their 19 year old son in a tragic car accident last night. He was speeding greatly, lost control of his car, hit a couple who were out for an evening walk, hit a tree, and was killed with his passenger when his car exploded. So many lives have been affected in such a tragic way. I cannot imagine the pain of his parents or of the parents of the passenger. I cannot imagine the pain of the four siblings who lost their parents while they were out for a walk. I cannot imagine how the kids’ friends are feeling, the depth of their pain and wonderment of lives’ being cut too short based on one bad decision, to drive wildly. I cannot imagine how my precious friend Carrie and her wonderful husband feel knowing that their son should have been in the car except for a last minute decision to stay home.

Yes, God will use this in the lives of many people because I know that He does not allow tragedies to be wasted. Erik is in Heaven now. He is in no pain and is complete now. As I talked to my children today about the accident, I just reminded them again that as they make decisions, they will make some that are just downright stupid. In doing so, though, I asked them again to weigh the consequences. Some bad decisions are redeemable; many are not. I can’t walk through this world holding their hands and warning them of oncoming cars or evil people or all of the other threats to their precious lives. I can only teach them the best that I can, then pray for them, and release them back to the Lord as they’re not really mine anyway.

Holy Father, only Your comfort can make a difference in any of these families. Please bring Your people to be Your hands and Your feet in San Jose. And, Heavenly Father, thank you for the lives of my four angels for this day. In Your Son’s own words, “Blessed is he who mourns for he will be comforted.” Thank you, Jesus.