This year marked 20 years since my sister died by suicide.  July 9, 2001 was one of the hardest days of my entire life.  It was during that time God carried me, just like the Footprints In The Sand poem says.

When the community learns of such a tragic death, there are so many questions.  Believe me, the family has tons more questions they would like to ask, but the ones that hold the answers are in Heaven (God & their loved ones).   No one knows quite what to say or do.  I thought I would offer some guidance, just as another friend did today.  She lost her daughter in January of this year, and she and her husband are still trying to cope.  We continue to rally around them and pray, knowing firsthand only God can comfort their hurting hearts.  My friend shared this with a plea on her Facebook page, and I now share it with you:

The Questions You Shouldn’t Ask Me About My Son’s Suicide | The Mighty

I would also like to share another source for those struggling after such a horrific loss:

The Compassionate Friends Non-Profit Organization for Grief

One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.
When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
There was only one set of footprints.
I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints.
I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, You leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.”
― Margaret Fishback Powers