sharing

[marc]

This hurts to think about.  I've known too many people who have given up hope; Too many who have turned their backs on everything.  And I have seen those who were left behind completely destroyed.  Satan is powerful, and cuts deep.

[Bill]

That is real good advice dj.  It helps me as well but sometimes I get too engrossed in self that I forget that others have needs.  Thanks for sharing as I need to be reminded quite often.

Susie
You, your family and your friends are in my prayers.  I've had a few problems this week as well but they pale in comparison to yours.  May God give you peace and the strength to help those around you.

Bill

[nerdneh]

Susie, it is good that you are a caring person and that all this pain bothers you. If you were not disturbed, you would not be the person you are. I believe even God is upset by many of the things that happen in human experience. I recall in John 11 that Jesus "shed silent tears" at the grave of Lazarus, even though he intended to raise him in just a few minutes. Death must have bothered Jesus, seeing all the struggles those he loved were going through was enough to make the Lord weep.

I recall in teaching ethics in College, we had a section treating suicide, "a permanent answer to a temporary situation." There were many who were convinced we should not talk about it, since it might "give someone ideas." I disagree with that "head in the sand" idea, since an open discussion will help friends see some of the obvious signs that a person is contemplating this action. And, also it can help the one who thinks all is hopeless see beyond the moment to the assurance that in a Kingdom of Grace it is never too late to accept help from God.

May the Lord grant you and those hurting His special peace, Dona nobis pacem.

[janine]

My worst problem today is the horrible disorder from boxed stuff that was carport-stored obstructing my kitchen, the tracked-in mud, the darkness in the house 'cause the windows are still boarded up...

That's nothing compared to the property loss down the bayou where some levees broke under the strain of two storms barely a week apart.  I'm grateful.  I'm looking forward to Sunday, when I will be able to hear more fully what needs to be done for my brothers & sisters down there.  

My congregation has a reputation for coming in after one of these disasters and helping out with some food, clothing, cleaning supplies, etc.  I'l find out about that Sunday a.m. too.

I've my little ones with me today, no school until Monday.  (Sure, 'little ones'... college, high school and a 5th-grader... You know what I mean, though.)

And, my husband (thus our livelihood) is on track.  No damage on the job.  They were able to prepare.  And lots of overtime comes out of catching up, which means bills get paid and the Lord's work doesn't have to wait!

Altogether, I am blessed beyond measure today.

Y'all take care.  Susie, prayer is going up for you right now re: strength & recovery for all within your sphere.

[susieface]

Booty, that is awesome and thank you so very much.  I printed it out and will give it to my son tomorrow.
Susie

[janine]

Sometimes I try to put myself in the place of one who chooses suicide.  To try to understand...

I think back to my worst, most depressed times, times of pain and loss and guilt and shame and abuse and despair and... Well, you get the picture.

I still cannot begin to understand.

I have a sweet sister-in-the-Lord friend who has been through what was probably clinical depression.  She has shared with me thoughts about suicide, and praised God that she felt so badly in those deep, dark times that she couldn't even mobilize herself to be able to take her own life.  Thanking God for a deep dark depression, imagine that!

I told her, that I am so cocky and full of myself, if I would ever get that depressed, I'd be much more likely to "go postal" than to shoot myself!

[Morris]

Bob stated:

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]There were many who were convinced we should not talk about it, since it might "give someone ideas." I disagree with that "head in the sand" idea, since an open discussion will help friends see some of the obvious signs that a person is contemplating this action.[/quote]

Bob, you are so right about that.  If someone is displaying indications that they are significantly depressed, they have already thought about suicide.  Here is a simple set of guidelines for spotting major depression and potential for suicide:

http://www.save.org/symptoms.html

Whenever someone has a loved one he or she suspects is having major depression or suicidal ideas, it is best to very specifically ask!

Ask these things:

Have you been thinking about suicide?

If the answer is "yes

[marc]

One tough thing about this is that when the depression is there full-throttle, talking to a doctor is the last thing you want to do.  And when it's not there, the need doesn't seem urgent.

[susieface]

I just wanted to share with everyone what has been happening in my household.  I am not having a great couple of weeks and I am afraid I have been harsh on a post or 2.

I have already mentioned the tornado problems here with my family a week and a half ago.  Last monday my good friends house burnt as well.  I ahve been trying to help her along with helping family with tornado woes. (stressful)

Then just this past Sunday right after church my oldest son (17 yrs. old) received a phone call telling him one of his best and oldest friends took his own life on saturday night.  He shot himself in the head in front of his girlfriend, the poor girl is a mess.  My son has been devastated a long with many other friends and schoolmates.  It is  so hard to see your son hurting over this and not really know how to help.  We want to do more than we can.  I am just glad he is expressing emotions.  The funeral was today, so sad, those poor parents.  It was heartbreaking.  

We went to bible study tonight (such a breath of fresh air) and then we found out one of the 20 something single men at church also committed suicide on saturday and was not found until today.  So sad to take that long to be discovered.  The whole singles ministry group are just devastated and planning the whole funeral.

Must have been the weekend for taking ones own life.  Isn't that pathetic.  Such wasted young lives!!

Has not been a great time.  It keeps feeling like Saturday to us all day today and it is only wednesday.

To add to it I have been fighting bronchitis since last friday, so I have very little energy.

Just wanted to share.  A lot of hurting people out there. And we worry about such silly stuff.

Susie

[david johnson]

susie:

we get streaks of serious problems around here too.  i guess everyone runs into that.  when it happens to me personaly i sometimes ask a few people if i can help them with anything.
that gets my feelings up a little.

dj

[Fate]

Psalm 40:1-13

Ps. 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
Ps. 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Ps. 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. [Or to falsehood]
Ps. 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no-one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Ps. 40:6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Ps. 40:7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll.
Ps. 40:8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

[janine]

Susie, some days are really months in disguise, I think.  That's the only way they could possibly pack in so much evil and misfortune and discomfort and disease and pain and...

I've my share of screamies right now... Thank God they've mostly resolved themselves into inconveniences, since this morning Hurricane Lili fizzled into a much smaller storm as she approached land.

Thank you for your care for others and I'll pray for strength for you & yours.  :)

[susieface]

Thank you every one for your kind and caring words, thoughts and mostly prayers.

Fate, that is so neat you wrote out that particular passage of scripture.  Tuesday night, I prayed and asked God to speak to me through his word and to give me the right words to say to my son.  I opened up my Bible and there I was at Psalms 40. I read it and wrote it out (paraphrased a little) in a letter I wrote to my son that I left on his mirror to find and read in the morning.  I also had a much more productive discussion with him that evening.  He was so hurt, but seems to be doing better now.  at least getting back into his normal routine.

Bob, thank you on your thoughts about discussing suicide.  I was battling how to discuss this with my son and his friends.  I admit it the idea of giving someone ideas crossed my mind.  I discussed it anyway, but probably could have done better.  I did tell them that they all needed to make a pact to immediately get help if anyone else ever threatened suicide again.  They said they would and I found out another mother told them the same thing.

Anyway, thanks everyone for everything.
Susie

[susieface]

Also, I am glad Janine that you survived the hurricane.  I guess we are supposed to get some of the rain from it tomorrow.  

I hope everyone else's problems and bad weeks are going away.  You are in my prayers as well.

Susie

[Booty]

Susieface,

For your son.


Lad,

I do not know your name, but I do know your pain. I cannot take that pain away, but I can lead you to Him that can. Take it now to the Lord, Lad and allow Him to hear your pain, your hurt.

Without knowing your name Lad, I also know your anger. You have been robbed cruelly of something dear, a friendship. Another friend has been forced against her will to see horror first hand. This is not right, this is not fair. Once again Lad, the Lord sits and waits to listen.

Still not knowing your name Lad, I also know your feeling of guilt. I know the feeling of futility you have every time you think, "I could have.....". Lad this is His as well and He waits to cleanse you of it.

Lad, life isn't fair. Some of us sadly never do accept that life is not meant to be fair. Some of us never accept the peace and assurance that exists in Christ Jesus. Some of us never learn the strength He brings to surmount the seemingly insurmountable. But Lad the miracle is you do not have to be as this. You Lad, have the option to to seek and receive this peace and assurance which is to be found in Christ and Christ alone.

Lad I may never know your name, I do not need to. But I do know I love you Lad, more than that I know Christ loves you as well and He waits to take your burdens. Go to Him now Lad and let Him hug you and comfort you, He knows your name and He knows your soul.

God Bless you Lad, God Bless you in the morn and in the noon. And God bless you in the dark of the darkest nights.

Matthew 11  
28.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  
29.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
30.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  

Brojees

[Booty]

With a hug and a kiss Mum, to be sure.

God Bless You,
Brojees

[marc]

I have had bouts with what would be clinical depression if I ever had the wherewithall to discuss them with my doctor.  I am a diabetic, and it often goes with the territory (although I've been depressive longer than I've been diabetic).  I haven't seriously considered suicide, but I have seen the bottom of the deep, dark hole and I understand what it feels like to know there is no hope as a certainty (never mind that when your mind is working right you discover the certainty is wrong).  I know what its like to be paralyzed into complete inaction.  I nearly flunked out of OCC during my first bout with this, and years later flunked another semester of college when I stopped going to my classes (what was the use)?  There have been other times I'd rather not think about.

I understand the darkness and the hopelessness.  I can empathize with the suicidal, even though that's never been a solution I've embraced.  This isn't a logical state.  It's darkness.  That's about the only way I can describe it.  It's a time when logic or reason or planning or hope make no sense.

I thank God I've gotten through it and always pray that he will keep the cloud away from me.

[janine]

I've thought about the how-when-where of suicide, and the "benefits" to myself of not having to deal with this life any more...

But I guess I've seldom or never been what a psychiatric diagnostician would label "depressed".

I can appreciate that biochemical aspect... my friend has felt unspiritual, but I've told her it was a lot less a spiritual than a chemical problem...