Talk about it. Save a life.
The bumper sticker that was passed out at the 5K walk a week ago Saturday has sat in a pile of papers. It has bothered me. As much as I want to save a life, as much as I am willing to talk about suicide and the impact it has had on us, I have not put that bumper sticker on my car...until tonight.
Suicide still sucks. Taking your life and not thinking about ways that life could change. Taking your life and not asking for help. Taking your life and thinking "possibly someone would miss me" like Laurie wrote in her note. That sucks. That's really so not fair. Give others a chance to take your problems seriously; take your medication; take a breath.
This week alone a young husband told me of his young wife taking her life just six weeks ago, leaving him and their two sons. A close friend of ours just lost her cousin to suicide and she is distraught. A business associate and friend is struggling with her beautiful son's attempts at suicide. And a comment left on a recent blog from someone I have never met about her struggle...
All I can plead is don't. Don't do it. Your life has meaning. You are a child of God and He put you here with a purpose. Play it out and discover why you are on this earth. I want to meet you. So do many others. Don't do it, not tonight, tomorrow or ever. Promise?
Go to http://www.afsp.org/ for more information.
posted by Barb K @ 10:25 PM
11 Comments:
Thank you Barb. Those words came just at a time when I needed them most.
Seeing the pain you all went through with Laurie made such a difference in my life. I suffer from clinical depression when I'm not looking after myself and at those times, I think of you all and am grateful for the reminder that although it feels like it, suicide is not the answer.
God bless you all.
I have posted anonymously another time on your thoughtful blog, I again wanted to say that you and Laurie have impacted my life in such a grand way, you have put yourself out 'there'. I am a 55 year old mom of 2 and had felt suicidal for many years, you helped me. Thank you for another entry that made me think.
kate
hey barb! hope things r well~each day is a beautiful struggle for us all...Im moving so came across some poetry etc that I wrote at a dark time in my life...Im toying with the idea of a book for teenagers-like the 'chicken soup for the soul' series...Are you still at comcast.net?
Barb,
I have written to you before, I have been reading your blog for some time now as well as the other members of your family, how amazing it is that I come here to read the happenings in your family and admire how strong each of you are in your faith and the way that Katie deals with her mental illness and all this because of the witness of your beloved Laurie that continues on even after she has gone to be with Jesus. Just minutes ago I received a phone call from a former co-worker of mine whom I have become very close too she is just a little younger than my mom and she is bi-polar as is my mother, she informed me that her son succeeded at suicide on Monday evening and she was calling to invite me to the funeral on Friday. My thoughts immediately went to your family and all that I have read here, I just hope that what I have learned here will help me to be there for my friend. God Bless, Sherrie
Barb...you never cease to amaze me. Your strength & wisdom continue to bless people each & every day! Hugs to you!
BTW, how many days now as a nonsmoker?
Stacy, Thanks for asking. Today is 80 days as a nonsmoker. Yippee!
Jackie, I am still at comcast.
Barb, I assume Greg reads your comment section so I wanted to just let him know he will be missed. I have never commented on his site but have learned so much from him - from what a dad role model should be, to the joy of running (although reading about it is enough for me!) and how to cherish friendships. Wishing he wouldn't shut down his blog, but understanding why ....
I'm with the anonymous poster above. I've come to admire this family through the reading of your blogs. I've learned much from you all. I wish Greg wouldn't shut his blog down either. I'd email him myself, but there's no address listed for him. (I do understand that you've all been badgered by cowards who hide behind "anonymous".) Good luck and God bless to Greg and the rest!!
Tracy and Anonymous,
I have made sure Greg will read you comments and I plan on blogging about this. I am hoping to persuade Greg to do a private blog, one where you will be invited to join. Put that on your prayer list? Thanks. Barb
Barb,
i read the post before this and saw this one and i have been reading your blog since you started and have appreciated your "realness" and i just want to say thank you. i feel like a coward writing this anonymously because you have been so real but you will honestly never know how much you have helped me in my lowest times, i used to have a blog and deleted it because they were just getting too dark and even though no one ever read them (which i preferred) i realized the writing wasn't helping. we are talking about suicide in my counseling classes i am taking and its hard to sit through and listen to all of the stuff because no one knows in that class that i still struggle and i wouldn't want anyone to know, but understand i do have someone to talk to/go to,but that is the reason for me being anonymous but i guess what i am trying to say through all of this mess is thank you and i know that's not enough but i don't know what else to say
Life is precious and is meant to be lived!The pain and loss that comes with suicide is so great.It is especially hard when the person is young.I struggle with depression and have survived a suicide attempt when i was 23.Now I am 54 and am so thankful for the happy(and sad)years I would have missed.Love and joy to the Boncimino family now and always until the wonderful reunion that will come in Heaven!Peace, Don,Marin County, Ca
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