Yesterday ( Day 340) I couldn’t bring myself to write. It wasn’t that God didn’t show up…I would say it was quite a productive day. Any day I get the chance to meet a new survivor who is seeking help to come out of the pit of shame is a GREAT day. In hearing this person’s story, and let me say it was and continues to be an ordeal, I set my goal on helping her find the good and move forward with the hope in each moment.
I was ready this morning to sit at the computer and give my summation of day 340 and then I received a call from Neal. “Look outside.”
The carnage of our new lit deer flung all over our yard, every one of them beheaded, and two in a ‘compromising’ position. Every year our deer get put in that position and we diligently go and do our best to keep the neighborhood chaste, untangling them and putting them back in their normal positions. But this scene, this was too much, especially after having to go and buy new deer because of the fire.
It was Ryan that really got me when he came into the living room visibly upset, “Why would kids do that? It’s so stupid!” Unfortunately, he said it in a way that teens this day talk at times and I had to get onto him for that but I also agreed with his anger. It’s ridiculous. But what could I do? At first I wanted to be angry and mad and show them how I felt. But the more I thought about it the more I envisioned these teens getting a good laugh and then one that felt the need to behead them all…it’s that kid that I wish I could find. I would sit down with him and figure out what is going on in his life that he would find that funny. Then my heart broke. They are just kids. So I wrote this instead.
We kept the sign up all day and will leave it the weekend. Because of the sign we’ve now met new neighbors who had moved in a few months ago on the street parallel to ours. Apparently kids had taken a decorated wreath they had on their mailbox and destroyed it. They came to our door after reading our poster and wanted to introduce themselves, thanking us for ‘taking a stand’ and wanted us to know we weren’t alone.
That’s what ‘speaking out’ does….it lets others know they are not alone and the positive is that it brings you together in community.
For the rest of this cold day I sat inside by a nice warm fire, admiring our new obnoxiously tall Christmas tree decorated by our loving community of family and friends and counted my blessings.
Which made me realize I forgot to share this photo with everyone. Aunt Heather worked hard to find the boys original first year ornaments. She gave them to them at Thanksgiving…even brought tears to Ryan’s eyes. What a blessing.
Family and friends. That’s what makes a difference in our moments and days.
Blessings
Shannon