Friday, December 10, 2010

Dec. 10 ~ My hardest, saddest day ever...

These words were penned last year on this date, but could have been written early this morning. December 10 continues to be my hardest, saddest day ever....

It happened already this morning.

I came downstairs early while the house was still dark, quietly clicked on the TV, and began watching the news to plan my day. Would they cancel school because of the snow? Would I have hot lunch duty? Could I keep my coffee date with a friend? And then, suddenly on the screen of my TV, they displayed the date, "December 10th".

My stomach formed a deep, painful knot and the tears began to flow.

Today's date, "December 10th" represents to me...

pain...

loss...

unbearable grief...

I've tried to reframe the day, sleep it away, pretend it doesn't exist. Stuffing doesn't work, nor does numbing. My heart and mind are triggered back to that painful night instantly when I see the date.

December 10th wasn't always such a hard day. In fact, for many weeks, we were looking forward to December 10th.

My fiance David and I were in the midst of planning our upcoming May 1st wedding. I had my dress and bridesmaids and maid of honor. We had the church and reception hall and DJ. David had my ring.

We had so many other wedding details yet to plan. However, I also had a huge licensing review at work to be completed on December 10th. Although I was eagerly anticipating planning my wedding, I needed to focus on my work project first. Once that was finished, I could give the wedding planning my all.

And then everything changed.

I arrived at my parents home after my licensing review on December 10, 1998 to pick up my 4 year old son Jake. Whew! I can start planning my wedding now. Yippee!!

David called to see how it went at work. "Fabulous", I shared! He wanted to hear all about it, but instead I insisted he wrap things up at work so I could tell him in person. It was 5:15 PM. "Great", David replied. "I need to check on one more thing at work, see if your brother Bryan is here, and then I'll be by to pick up you and Jake as quick as I can. Let's go out and celebrate! I should be there in 30 minutes."

I stretched out on the couch, exhausted, waiting for David to come.

He never came.

Even though I had slightly dozed off on the couch, I heard the phone ring. And then I heard the whispering. My mom and dad came in the family room and stood over me. "Cindy", my mom shared, "there's been an accident. Your brother Bryan just called from work. David's been in an accident."

An accident??


Shoot! We were supposed to go to the Michael W. Smith concert tomorrow. Did he break his arm? Would we need to give away our tickets? No big deal. I'd spend the weekend in a hospital chair near his bed if needed. Wherever David was is where I wanted to be.

"Where is he?" I asked. Did I need to meet him at the hospital? Could I drive him there myself??
"Cindy, we just need to pray", my mom responded.

Suddenly I realized David just didn't break his arm. I ran upstairs and began calling my friends to pray. I had only been a Christian for 2 years, but I could tell in my mom's voice that we needed prayer. And quickly.

And then, while I was on the other line with a friend, my brother Bryan called.


"How is he, Bry??" I asked.

"Cindy, let me talk to mom."

"No, Bry, first tell me how David is. Do I need to come to work?? Is he already at the hospital?"

"Cindy, let me talk to mom."

"Bry, just tell me..."

And then my brother shared the painful, life changing, gut wrenching words....

"I'm sorry Cindy, he's gone...."

I ran down the stairs weeping and wailing. My parents, unaware that Bryan had called, watched as I threw myself down on the hard wood floor and began pounding my fists in the ground. "No! No! No!" was all I could say....

Before long, their house was filled with people.

My best friend Michele...who just knew to come, even before she heard what happened.
My boss.
My pastor and his wife.
So many others.

At one point, I cleared everyone out of the room, except my pastor friend Rob. We sat on my parents steps while I wept. Through my tears I asked him over and over again, "Why? Why? Why would God allow this?"

David often said he would give his life for just one person to know Jesus. WHY would God take him home??.......

And this painful, long, heart-breaking night is what I remember everytime I see or hear "December 10th".

In an instant, I am back to my parents home. I hear the sounds. I remember the loss. I feel the pain.

Thank you, dear bloggy friends, for allowing me to share this part of my journey with you. Today was the first time I've ever typed out the details of the night. God does not waste our pain ~ of this, I am sure.

And thank you to my husband John for his extra sensitivity and grace on this day. John is God's special gift to me.

May we experience all that He has for us today.

Although we don't know what the future holds, we do know the One who holds the future...and He is faithful and loving and true. It's gonna be ok.



P.S. Remember how I shared that David said he would give his life for just one person to know Jesus. Two days later, at David’s funeral, my Dad (who had been an atheist/agnostic) accepted Jesus as His Savior!


16 comments:

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

What a beautiful post....so glad that I stopped by

BARBIE said...

Oh Cindy, how excruciating painful this must have been. Praising the Lord for your father's salvation even in the midst of this heartache. God is so good!

MisAdventuresofMomof3 said...

Cindy - I'm so sorry for your loss. What a difficult time that must have been for you. What a blessing your husband is to you for his love and support on this difficult day.

Thank you for sharing that with us.

Nana's Nuggets said...

Hi! Cindy~ May the Lord Jesus, today~ Give you the Peace that passes all understanding. All I can say is that I am so Thankful! for your Dad's Salvation! What a Wonderful and Mighty God We Serve! Blessings of Peace to you Sweet Sister.

Unknown said...

Hey Cindy,
I just wanted to tell you how much of a blessing you are to me. In Christ's love!
Ann

Brenda said...

Thank you for sharing this painful story. Praying for you!

Angela said...

(((hugs))) This brought tears to my eyes,,especially when I read the last sentence...makes me cry again..

P.S. Remember how I shared that David said he would give his life for just one person to know Jesus. Two days later, at David’s funeral, my Dad (who had been an atheist/agnostic) accepted Jesus as His Savior!

Anonymous said...

I love how you have interwoven God's glory and redemption in this heart-wrenching story. God allows pain, but He also is more than capable to heal it.

I pray that God blesses you and your beautiful family!

Thoughts for the day said...

Incredible story... so sorry you had to deal with this but through our difficult times we grow and we trust and in time we move forward.
I am glad you found a new love.

Anonymous said...

Cindy, dear Cindy, I'm so sad about this terrible loss and pain you endured. But, I know the Lord has carried you and given you strength to minister to others and share Him through this. I will look forward to meeting David in HEAVEN someday. Love you, Jenny C.

Heidi Pocketbook said...

Sitting here with tears rolling down my face. I think any of us who have lost a loved one can identify, but I know it's not the same as the pain you personally feel. What an awesome testimony about your dad being saved because of David's death.

Thanks for being such an encouragement and blessing to so many.

LisaShaw said...

My precious sister,


This beautiful and tender outpouring of your heart circled around my own heart and squeezed tenderly until tears flowed deep...as I prayed for you but I knew that our GOD has a plan and purpose for everything and so when I got to the P.S. I gushed tears of JOY unto the LORD.

Thank you for sharing and blessing. May GOD use this message to reach even more people for Christ!!!

Love you.

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

What a beautiful story of God's grace and healing power. And, praise the Lord for your Dad's salvation. We just never know from one day to the next how our lives may change, but thank the Lord we know who holds tomorrow.

Heavenly blessings to you!

Melanie said...

Oh Cindy... I can't even catch my breath after reading this... tears streaming.... I can't imagine and I am praying for you even now (a day late, I'm sorry!) Love to you, sweet friend.

Blessings,
Melanie

Kristen said...

Thanks, Cindy, for sharing your story. I remember those days too, and how we all grieved for you at work and prayed for you. I remember the poem about the WWJD bracelet from the funeral. Thank you too, for your encouragement through difficult times--that was a rough year for both of us. But the Lord sustained us both.

MOMSWEB said...

sigh...

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