Today, a baby will be laid to rest.
A baby who only had a name, never a life. An infant who will never receive the chance to do anything, not even breathe. A life stolen from his hopeful parents before it got the chance to be lived.
He will never throw a football with his father. He will never kiss his mother or smell her skin; he will never feel the caress of her hand as she gently holds him. He will never get to high-five his dad. He won't get to make his grandparents proud. He will never know how much he was already loved, even before he came into this world.
Today is a beautiful day. There is only a gentle breeze that rustles the leaves in the trees, and the sky is so blue it might be fake. It is so horribly, sadly ironic that a funeral should take place on a day of such glorious weather. It is almost as if his parents are being reminded that their baby can never enjoy that beautiful Indiana summer weather.
Today, God gains another soul.
We are supposed to believe in a benevolent God; one who does everything for the greater good. Maybe we cannot understand tragedies when they occur, but one day the pain will all make sense. I cannot justify taking a baby who never even got the chance to be born. How can God take away a life he never even allowed to exist? Why does He take so many people who deserve to live, yet allow so many who do not deserve life to exist?
A girl, sixteen years old, taken in the prime of her life. Killed by a car accident. A vibrant, beautiful girl with the whole world at her feet. Taken as quickly as one can blink their eyes. A girl who will never get to go to her high school prom. She will never get to fall in love, take her SATs, or go to the homecoming football game. Her father will never get to walk her down the aisle. Her mother will never get to kiss her goodbye as she leaves her for the first time at college. She'll never share another secret with her sister.
We take our lives for granted. We never consider the number of breaths we draw in a day, or how many times our heart beats. We never think of how many times we blink. We never think of these things, because we never consider that they may be limited. We never think that, like these children whose lives were so unceremoniously ripped out from under them, that today could be our last day. So, slow down and live a little. No, live a lot. Live out loud, for the babies and teenagers and toddlers who can't. Live for those whose lives were taken too soon. Cherish each breath, blink, and heartbeat. And every time you do, think of them. The baby who never got the chance to know how badly he was wanted by his loving parents; the teenager who will never know how much she is truly missed.
So, make your days count. Although we can't count the days or measure how a life is lived; do not let that life be in vain. Thank God for each day you have. Hug your mother, tell your dad a joke. Because they are lucky to have you. Love your family and friends for the ones who never got a chance to love theirs.
Today, a baby will be buried.
A tiny coffin will be placed in the ground. The dirt will cover it, and eventually grass will grow up over it. People will gradually put his death to the back of their minds. We will all mourn the life that he never had. But most of all, we will cherish the lives that we do have.
Rest in peace, little one. We live for all you never could.
A baby who only had a name, never a life. An infant who will never receive the chance to do anything, not even breathe. A life stolen from his hopeful parents before it got the chance to be lived.
He will never throw a football with his father. He will never kiss his mother or smell her skin; he will never feel the caress of her hand as she gently holds him. He will never get to high-five his dad. He won't get to make his grandparents proud. He will never know how much he was already loved, even before he came into this world.
Today is a beautiful day. There is only a gentle breeze that rustles the leaves in the trees, and the sky is so blue it might be fake. It is so horribly, sadly ironic that a funeral should take place on a day of such glorious weather. It is almost as if his parents are being reminded that their baby can never enjoy that beautiful Indiana summer weather.
Today, God gains another soul.
We are supposed to believe in a benevolent God; one who does everything for the greater good. Maybe we cannot understand tragedies when they occur, but one day the pain will all make sense. I cannot justify taking a baby who never even got the chance to be born. How can God take away a life he never even allowed to exist? Why does He take so many people who deserve to live, yet allow so many who do not deserve life to exist?
A girl, sixteen years old, taken in the prime of her life. Killed by a car accident. A vibrant, beautiful girl with the whole world at her feet. Taken as quickly as one can blink their eyes. A girl who will never get to go to her high school prom. She will never get to fall in love, take her SATs, or go to the homecoming football game. Her father will never get to walk her down the aisle. Her mother will never get to kiss her goodbye as she leaves her for the first time at college. She'll never share another secret with her sister.
We take our lives for granted. We never consider the number of breaths we draw in a day, or how many times our heart beats. We never think of how many times we blink. We never think of these things, because we never consider that they may be limited. We never think that, like these children whose lives were so unceremoniously ripped out from under them, that today could be our last day. So, slow down and live a little. No, live a lot. Live out loud, for the babies and teenagers and toddlers who can't. Live for those whose lives were taken too soon. Cherish each breath, blink, and heartbeat. And every time you do, think of them. The baby who never got the chance to know how badly he was wanted by his loving parents; the teenager who will never know how much she is truly missed.
So, make your days count. Although we can't count the days or measure how a life is lived; do not let that life be in vain. Thank God for each day you have. Hug your mother, tell your dad a joke. Because they are lucky to have you. Love your family and friends for the ones who never got a chance to love theirs.
Today, a baby will be buried.
A tiny coffin will be placed in the ground. The dirt will cover it, and eventually grass will grow up over it. People will gradually put his death to the back of their minds. We will all mourn the life that he never had. But most of all, we will cherish the lives that we do have.
Rest in peace, little one. We live for all you never could.
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