My Heart Goes Out

By Stephanie Denham, editorial assistant, The Meridian Star


My heart goes out to the families of the two teenagers who were killed the last two days in Lauderdale County. I too have lost a child and can understand some of their pain. My daughter was killed in a car wreck in 1991. My heart is so saddened for the families and especially the parents of the two teens lost. I understand the painful and long road that they are just beginning to go down as I have been on that road for a while now. As we grow older, we see our parents grow older and we think that in the "natural" state of things, we will bury our parents, but we never expect to bury a child. That is the most painful thing that a parent will ever go through. Please friends and families, rally around not only now for these parents, but rally months and years down the road. Please don't think you are being rude or "upsetting" them by talking about these young people. We want to know that they are not forgotten or that they will not be forgotten. You will not "upset" them anymore than what they already are. Let them grieve in the way they want and need, just be there for them...be the "safe" person if you can, and let them be and express the raw deep grief relief that they need. I am praying for them and do understand some of their grief and I am truly so sorry to the bottom of my core being.