Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Life Is Short


It has been just over a week now that I received a phone call no one wants to get. My beautiful young cousin, newly married just shy of six months earlier, became a widow. Her husband was in a car accident with two other young men (one of the men, the driver, was also killed; the rear-seat passenger had head and facial trauma). We had just met Kevin literally a couple weeks earlier at our family Christmas get-together. Although I didn't get much of a chance to talk with him, he was such an awesome young man. Kevin looked like a tough guy, tats on his arms, big muscles, and in some ways he probably was a tough guy....but what I saw of him and what I've heard about him was his friendliness, his helpfulness, his gentleness, and the way he related to people of all ages. He was not only family, he was a close friend to so many of my cousins.


Not all the details of the accident have been released, but snow and ice were not factors, nor were alcohol or drugs. It was a one-car accident that happened around midnight and wasn't seen or reported for another eight hours. And no one was wearing a seat belt...although since the engine was pushed into the front seat upon impact with a tree, I don't think seat belts would have saved the lives of Kevin and Nathan in this instance.


I am thankful these young men knew Christ and gave their lives to Him, sold out to God. They are with Jesus now and I doubt they'd want to leave heaven to return to their loved ones...but for those loved ones still left waiting here on earth, emotions are running deep.


Please pray for Julie, my cousin; her father Julius who was also very close to both young men; for Nathan's three young children; and for the extended families and friends who lost someone too early in life. And please...remind your loved ones AND yourself to buckle up as well as drive safely and defensively. Regardless of your age, you are NOT indestructible. Life is short, don't make it shorter.