Broken
This morning in our new house, because of a miserable failure on my part, we awoke to no heat and no hot water. We have spent the past 2 weeks with no internet, and since I left my phone charger in Kansas City after Christmas, I’ve been limping through with no real phone access. My closet doors fell off the tracks. My Chi hair straightener has mysteriously stopped working. I had a flat tire on Sunday night, and when I called AAA for help, was informed that my service had expired. To top it all off, the first time that Mel used the mug I gave her as a housewarming “happy to be roommates!” gift, the coffee flooded out through a crack in the bottom.
A lot of things in my life are broken. But none more so than my heart.
Little Ben’s broken body was taken from this broken world on Tuesday. And there are simply no words to express the grief, the anguish, the suffering of his family and community. It’s the most devastating tragedy I have ever experienced.
God is good. But life’s a bitch.
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Sorry for yours and Ben’s family’s loss, Annie :( Let me know if there’s anything I can do…
This Annie’s new year hasn’t been much better, so far.
And I cry every time I think of the Townes. Can’t imagine how much more it would hurt if I knew them personally. I’m so sorry.
it’s a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day! I’m sorry
mom
The Towne’s post from December 26, the excerpt from A Grief Observed is one of the best things I’ve ever read.
The silver lining of New Year’s enthusiasm has a very dark cloud attached to it at the moment.
Dearest Annie,
If you could picture your grief, your sorrow, as a million tiny pieces of something sharp…then picture everyone you know who loves you and follows your journey taking just one of those little pieces in hopes to make your grief, your sorrow, just a little less painful. We, even those of us who don’t know you very well, would do that for you, if it meant that every day you were a little closer to the smiling, joyous Annie we appreciate so dearly.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and Ben’s family. Much love.
annie, all these months of reading your blog, and the last thing in the world i’ve ever wanted to be with you is a sorrow twin. but “God is good but life’s a bitch” so much sums up how i’m feeling right now that i had to let you know that you are in my prayers. i arrived in dublin on thursday morning ready to start a fabulous semester abroad only to get news on friday that my 19 yr old cousin, as close to a sister as i’ve ever gotten, was killed in a car crash overnight. i’m flying home for her funeral sunday morning. i’m desperate to hold onto the “God is good” part of that sentiment. i will be holding you and the townes in my heart during this time of grief.
This makes me so very, very sad.
The best words of comfort I can find:
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,but the LORD delivers him from them all…” -Psalm 34:18-19
and
John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
You have a way with words and constantly inspire and move me with your posts…however, no words have been more aptly placed, nor truthfully spoken than the plain and simple, “God is good, but life’s a bitch.” Love that.
dear miss annie, I wish to send you and the townes my sympathies. I can’t even imagine the pain. Just a note on how far ben’s story reached, I was watching “the Soup” on E! on jan. 10 and after the show joe mchale sent out a farwell the his 3 year old friend Ben towne who died on dec. 30th. I am not sure if you have seen it but i thought you and the towne’s would want to know the impact of little ben. Hope all is well.
Magen from ohio
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