I am feeling frayed at the seams with grief over senseless death. We lost a young family friend who was only 28 years old yesterday. She was severely autistic. Her language was minimal, but she had the gift of bringing joy to everyone she met. Perhaps, it was her innocence, her special smile, or her sense of trust in the good in the world. I don’t know. I know her loss to the world is a rent in the fabric of our lives.
This has hit our family hard. It is, of course, layered with the grief of the shooting tragedy of the children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, and the war in Ukraine. It’s times like this when I question the Universe on the reason for senseless death. Why, why, and why echoes in my head like ripples of water hitting the shoreline. Answers do not come. I do not understand why people feel the need to take the lives of others. And I know, in my heart, that my grief is one tear in the billions that are being shed for what has happened in the world in recent weeks and months. I will be adding more tears and grieving with Shayna’s family, the families in Uvalde, and the Ukrainians.
My heart is heavy. My eyes cannot hold back the tears. Shayna you were a gift to the world, and you will be missed. I will work hard to cherish moments and seek joy.
