...thank you.All of your posts have given me something to hold close to my heart.Today...i have been inconsolable.The tears have never stopped and it has been a long time since i have known grief such as this. Even my children,normally demanding as children are,have kept a quiet distance,just giving me a warm hug every once in a while.
I did not know this young man well...yet I seemed to know who he was and what he was about.He was a shining light in a world of many faces wrought with stress.His smile was from the heart,his openness so refreshing,his kindness so tangible.
I broke again today when I gently told his workmate,that he wasn`t to worry about our building work.He turned to me and said that Dan would have wanted him to go ahead,..that he had been looking forward to working here.
I broke my heart...and it is still breaking.
How do you write a letter of condolence to his parents in such circumstances.I want to say how lovely he was...and all the rest...but the pain in reading that when their son has gone,seems unimaginable.

Truly your words here are so very beautiful...I feel so blessed.
x

Trust me, even though the pain is overpowering, the parents will treasure your note. The only two things that I might caution you is not to say it is God's will, and I also got a note from a friend that said that children died because God needed them for his flower garden or some such nonsense.

Speak from your heart and you will be heard.

Love to you,
Mama

Steffi,

Your beautiful words share with us a human being of the very first rank. Thank you. You have been a friend to us all in doing this sharing. Many prayers are wafting heavenward that might not otherwise have been prayed. Many hearts feel the pain you are living through, and perhaps some of them are awakened to what is important to them. May you find peace.

Jaye

and even though you're half a word away, and I'd never met Dan, I rekon any bloke who goes into a river to rescue a puppy must be a good man!!!! I am sitting here wiping away tears at such a tragic loss, my heart goes out to you Steffi
take care

Dear Steffi, It's tough to see one good man left ...but he has left us with great memory that will never fade away. Definitely he would live in peace in heaven.

oh steffi...your pain & compassion comes hrough so vividly....you are in my thoughts and prayers...you are blessed to have been a recipient of this special man's kindness, generousity and love. I am so sorry for your loss.

Steffi,
I think his family would love to know how he touched your life in such a good and wonderful way.

I just had to let you all know this.Over 300 people attended this guys funeral.At 23 how many lives did this young man touch?His mother said this of him;
"He loved everybody and everybody loved him.He always had a smile on his face.I am n ot just saying this because I`m his mum.It was as if he didn`t belong to me...he belonged to everyone"
And these words ffrom his best friend;
.If a stranger broke down at the side of the roadhe would pull over and help them because that is just the kind of person he was"

wow.....how proud that mother must have been to be able to say that about her son....and how moved to hear the same from others. I am smiling through tears as I write this because out of this mindless tragedy,is a lesson to us all.

This lads fun eral was held close by and then the mourners came back to the pub opposite to where I live.His pall bearers all went out to buy the same suit in order to pay their respects.The sight of a street mobbed by young beautifully dressed folk was incredible and unforgettable.
He should have been there himself.
It costs nothing to give a smile.It costs nothing to show a simple act of kindness.It costs nothing to reach out to someone,even if they are a stranger.

This young lad,who loved and lived life to the full probably accrued more friends in his 23 years than most people would see in a lifetime.

And all because he reached out to people and put others first.

I remain deeply humbled by this selfless human being.

Love
Steff
x

in my prayers hon

Ode

Dawn breaks
bringing my dreams of longing to the surface.
My head leaves the loneliness of the pillow
to confront daylight
shining with forbearance through my window.
At last, I know it is time to mourn.

Your favorite chair taunts me
while it tries to hold the mist of your image.
Looking vacantly upon it,
I bow my head from the weight of desperate need.
My search for reason has run empty.
Your ghost cannot be my torment.

I need to feel you
outside of the disappearing memories.
There is more to you than a whirlpool of tears.
By facing the realization of your death
my heart will be granted a cushion
to survive the blows of emptiness.

The wonder of who you were
no longer deserves my prideful pain.
Something that is vibrant cannot drown
a sanctified disfigured casualty.
You deserve so much more.
Your legend is precious and must be kept pure.

This day I will glorify you.
My eyes will see the beauty of your solo flight.
The wind of tranquility now carries you,
where no shadow of pain crosses your brow
nor wetness from fear falls from your eye.
You have no need to plea for relief.

You are complete...
you are complete.

As I watch your vision illuminate,
the inner peace you have found surrounds me.
I am able to find a calm.
Securely wrapped in your halo,
you extend a hand toward me.
showing me…

Yes.
I now know.
You are at rest.

Copyright © December 2000
Laura Jeanne Dean

That is one of the most poignant things I have ever read.Thank you so very much. Simply beautiful.

Love
Steff
x