Friday, September 9, 2011

Someone in the World is Worse Off Than Me

As parents who have been through the loss of a child, both Josh and I have had some very hard, emotional, and trying days.  However, when you think your situation is bad, there is someone else out there 1000 times worse off than yourself.

A week ago, an innocent teenage girl was brutally abducted and murdered in Las Vegas.  This tragedy hits so close to home because it was a fellow Air Force family that now has to bury their child.  But under much, much worse circumstances.  Josh and I know the shock, numb, anguish, etc. that Alyssa's family feels.  However, I do not and cannot fathom the utter fear, anger, horror, etc. that they feel, knowing that a very horrible person violated and brutally murdered their child.  I do not want to know what that is like.  My heart absolutely aches and cries out for them. 

Unlike us, they will have to revisit their daughter's death over and over when they attend court hearings for the trial of their daughter's murder.  They are probably not able to have an open casket as we were, because this very bad man violated and did horrible things to her body.  Unlike our son, Alyssa died a cruel, painful, and absolutely horrible death.  I could go on and on, but I will not.  Bottom line--we are thankful--it could have been MUCH worse. 

I have read in my GriefShare literature that the cause of death and age of the person and relationship of that person will determine hard the grief will be.  In our case, it is a very traumatic.  However, with Alyssa's family, it is traumatic, traumatic, traumatic...  God bless you all, the Otremba Family.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.  I want you to know, if by the will and grace of the Lord you get this message, that I am here for you and I will try to help in any way possible.

Blessed are they that mourn:  for they shall be comforted.  Matthew 5:4

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Praying for this family and for you. God is good.......all the time, even in this.

Kate said...

We live in Las Vegas, not one mile from where that poor girl was abducted...I think about her everyday as I drive my own daughter home from school. We are also a military family. I pray for her family, and I am now praying for yours, as well.

Shannon Wallace said...

Hi Kate,

I can imagine how difficult is must be to drive by that area where precious Alyssa was abducted. My stomach literally hurt and my heart ached, and still aches, for this family's grief and heartache. Thank you for your prayers. We still need them, and I am sure the Otrema Family needs them even more so, due to the circumstances. Thank you for your comment. God bless!