This is the question that Ainsley has asked several times now. Her friend died this week when she was struck by a car. It is so hard to see Ainsley struggle with this tragic death. She came home yesterday after finding out and she just tried to stay brave for a while. But she had been brave all day and she just needed to let all go. Daddy came home early and he and I met her off the bus so that we could talk.
“She’s never going to get to grow up.” “How do they know she’s dead?” “Why did CPR not work?” “Whose fault is it?” and her most vigorous plea . . . “It’s just not fair.” No, Ainsley. It is not fair.
But her faith is strong and she knows that God is a part of all of this even though he certainly didn’t cause any of it. She knows that her God is hugging Jazmin in heaven right now, not because he needed another angel but because something bad happened and he wanted to comfort her. She has drawn pictures and written a letter to send to the family. She has requested prayers for Jazmin at church and prayed for her family and all those who hurt because of this loss. She took a rose today to place on Jazmin’s desk and wants to bring pictures tomorrow to decorate her desk because that is what Jazmin would like.
She is hurting through this journey and I hate that all we can do is walk with her and love her as she heals from this sadness. I cry with her and hold her close as I selfishly thank God that it wasn’t Ainsley.
It is amazing how resilient children are. She will move through this. She says that she wants to help others in her class who are more sad than she is. She wants to help them to not hurt so much. She worries that her friend’s family is hurting so bad that they won’t be able to be happy again.
But we found this picture of her and Jazmin and wants to print it out so she can carry it with her. This way she can’t forget her friend.
The Puddles 
Leave a Reply