Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Remembering Lives Lost Through Living
Life can change on you in an instant.
Last week two young lives ended way too early. Their hopes, dreams and fragile bodies were crushed when a driver careened out of control, crossed the median and slammed into their cars on I-220 in Ridgland. Life changed in an instant for the families and loved ones of everyone involved.
17 year old Mario Whipps was a local high school junior who loved football. He was a linebacker for Forrest Hill High School. Last Friday during the team’s home game, his fellow players carried his jersey onto the field. When the game started, only 10 players took their positions. The missing 11th player signified their loss…the emptiness they felt by losing their dear friend.
This Saturday, those who loved the kid known as “Big Dog” will gather in Jackson to honor his memory, one last chance to say goodbye. For his parents, I can’t imagine there ever being a final good bye. How can you let go of your child, your baby boy? Everyone had big dreams for Mario, especially his parents. How sad, those dreams have turned into this nightmare.
24 year old Emily Irby no doubt had big dreams for herself and for her young daughter. Emily was attending Hinds Community College where she was going to nursing school…with hopes of one day helping others.
Unfortunately no one could help Emily that fateful night as she headed north bound on I-220. The crash was too quick, too devastating, too final. Each day on my way to work I pass the flowers, cards and balloons her family has placed at the crash site. It’s a haunting reminder of their painful loss…a shocking tribute to the reality of how life can change on you in a instant. I pray those who loved Emily will keep her memory and dreams alive so that her little girl can grow up to love the woman she never got to know.
Life also changed in an instant that night for 28-year old Shawn Hynes. He’s the Arkansas man accused of causing the deadly wreck that killed Emily and Mario. Police say he was speeding. All indications suggest they also believe alcohol was involved. We’re still waiting for the test results.
Hynes survived the crash but is still in the hospital. Whether he was irresponsible…or the wreck was truly an accident, his life will never be the same. His family will never be the same either.
It’s so easy to take for granted the good things in our life. The simple pleasures that make it worth living like a good cup of coffee, watching that favorite tv show or walking the dogs with someone you love on a beautiful star-lit night. It’s the obvious things that give us joy, the things we so often fail to recognize.
I’ve had my share of “life changing” moments. If you’re over thirty, I would imagine you’ve had yours too. A small group of us have even survived that “one moment” that changes your life forever. A moment when everything as you know it, can never be again.
The good news is, life does go on, even for those of us members of the “damaged heart and soul club.” It just takes time. But I can promise you one thing, if you do come through it, a wonderful reward awaits you. You’ll become one of the blessed among the living who cherishes life every single day it’s granted to us.
(1) SUBMIT / READ COMMENTS HERE •
You are so right, we should cherish every day
the good lord bless us to get up. We should tell our love ones we love them every day, because we never know when out time will come.
Be blessed
