My Absence
You've probably noticed I haven't posted in a while. My last post was on March 30, 2007 the day my life changed. My older brother who had been battling what we thought was depression for almost two years had just been diagnosed as bi-polar. We were grapling with this new diagnosis, trying to figure out what it meant for him and his family going forward. He too, was struggling, seeing life as he had known it spiraling away from him. In the early morning hours of March 30, he gave up the struggle and took his own life.
To say these last two weeks have been traumatic would be an understatement. The grief and heartache at first were overwhelming for my family and for his wife and kids. As we progressed through the week--with seven individual wake services for him, the love that was expressed to my family was incredible. Some who approached me said, "I'm sorry." Some said, "You have my sympathy." Most simply said, "I love you." It was what I told my mom and dad when I called them after finding out on Friday. "I love you."
I ask your prayers for my family, my mom and dad, my brother's wife and kids, for my sister and her family, my family, and his in-laws and friends. It has been a difficult time for all as we sort out what went wrong, why nothing we did or tried worked, and how and where we go from here. It is one of those times in life that I become very grateful for the amazing friends and family that I have. They never let me forget that I am loved, and that is making all the difference.
Tell someone today... RIGHT NOW that you love them. They need to know, and you might not have tomorrow to tell them.
Peace to all,
Staci Stallings
posted by Staci Stallings at 9:05 AM
7 Comments:
I just found you from Writer...Interrupted, and for what it's worth from a stranger who also knows loss, I am sorry.
My heart caught in my throat as I read your first paragraph, and my heart and prayers go out to you in the turmoil of your tangled time.
Grace and peace to you. I pray you see God's generous hand as you sort through all you have left.
Staci, I am so very sorry for your loss! My heart aches for you and your family. I wish there were something I could do to ease the pain, but I can only pray - and that I will absolutely do.
God is faithful, and He is our Comforter. I know He will not fail you.
You're in my prayers!
Delia
you are in my prayers...
Altho this is a late post, I send you my condolences and I hope everything is fine with you and your family,altho losing a loved one is really a life changing situation, I hope for the best.
God Bless.
Staci, This post touched me. June 2006 my father died by his own hand. No chance to say goodbye, to say that we loved him. He had been planning it a while. And a couple years earlier he had been diagnosed as bi-polar. Death is hard enough, and the taking of ones own life - so unfair to family members. May your own family be healing gradually but surely. My heard goes out to his wife and children and to all of you. May you find so much comfort and strength in the happy memories that you share, in the love that you have for each other and in the words of our dear Lord.
EE
PS: Staci,Thank you for sharing this with your Blogger friends. (I also blogged some thoughts, posted at my blog under *grieving* as I recall... http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com.)
Staci,
Please accept my condolences for you and your family. May God continue to guide and comfort as you walk this painful path.
God bless you, Esther
I came to your blog through Writer Interrupted and saw your post about your brother. My husband is on disability due to bipolar disorder. Our trial began almost 21 years ago, and many times I was afraid to come home and perhaps find that he, too, had taken his own life. My heart goes out to you and your family. I will pray for you.
Jerri
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