Loss

Went to Highland Hospital with a few friends to bring some cheer for those who need it. Met parents of a 21 year old son who has been in a coma for the past two weeks after a car accident. He was in the backseat of the car with the seat belt on when the car was hit. He was ejected out of the car and suffered severe head trauma. At first it wasn’t clear that he was going to survive. However, he’s now been physically stabilized, and the parents are sure that he will live. The question is how much of his personality will remain and how severe the possible brain damage will be.

I listened to them and said a simple prayer with them. I can’t fathom the pain this family is going through. The loss of what was normal life (because even if their son comes back, nothing will be the same as it was before) is wrenching. I do believe that God can bring good out of desperate situations, even ones like this. But I still can’t imagine how much it hurts. The thought of losing a son…

Yet as I write this, I’m reminded of the pain of God. Christianity dares to say that God knows the pain of losing a son. He understands our mourning, for He bore a great sadness of His own. Yet it is in His loss that we find our true comfort and hope.

"How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory”