In Tragedy there is Hope

In tragedy there is hope. In tragedy there is also sometimes more tragedy. That has unfortunately been the case for my friends, the Ekren family and myself these past few months. Just last week, late Friday night, Chris’ Grandpa passed away. He couldn’t take the pain of having lost his wife a few years ago and then losing his grandson and best friend; Chris. He decided he didn’t want to be here anymore and overdosed on pills. He regretted his actions and was taken to the hospital where doctors did what they could, but Grandpa sadly didn’t make it.

I don’t tell you all this because I am expecting sympathy, I want to bring more awareness to the pain of grief and depression. Grandpa had such wonderful qualities like his love for children, his talent for gardening, his sense of humour and his gentle yet competitive spirit. But he suffered from depression ever since losing his wife. He couldn’t see all the positives in his life anymore. He constantly dwelled in the sorrow and pain and negativity. He was a very kind man and a wonderful grandfather, but he struggled a lot, which was really hard to see. I loved him dearly and he will be missed. We hope and pray that Grandpa has found the peace that he was searching for.

Please please please if you are suffering from depression, having a hard time grieving or just struggling with anything; talk to someone! Get help. Get counselling, seek prayer, seek guidance, etc. Don’t let it send you down a downward spiral. God made us each perfect in His own image and He has a plan for us. He desires the best for us. To come to a place where you would rather die than live is absolutely heart breaking. In the end what really matters is how we choose to live our lives with our limited time and energy. Please don’t spend your time dwelling in such a dark place.

After all that, I do believe that in tragedy there is hope. There is hope that Grandpa is right where he wanted to be; in Heaven with Chris and Grandma. There is hope that our family will continue to draw closer to each other and closer to God. There is hope that we all learn from this; that we show more compassion and not be afraid to ask for help if we need it. There is hope that me writing these blog posts will affect at least 1 person’s life. There is hope that that 1 person will choose life and live it to the fullest, bringing more awareness to others that might be suffering. There is hope that in the midst of all this sadness and pain we find the light. We choose to love and be happy and bring joy and positivity into people’s lives. I’m getting real tired of being sad. Let’s get out there and LIVE.

Love you all lots,

Marie <3
Photos were taken at the: Abbotsford Tulip Festival