Day 448.

‭Today is my birthday. My second without Tyler. I don’t make new year’s resolutions but I do something similar for my birthday every year. This year I want to be a part of making a difference when it comes suicide. I don’t know what that looks like. But talking about it is a good start. It is hard to talk about the way that Tyler left this earth because he is so much more than the way he died. But silence was part of what made him feel suicide was his only option to end the pain. So, I will not be silent, I will be his voice.  I am Tyler’s voice.

Suicide is a leading cause of death for males 10-35. LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH!  It is heart breaking. I want to fix it. I want to hold everyone thinking this is the only way until we make it to the other side. We have thought about creating something but there are organizations in place that are already boots on ground against the war on suicide. We want to find ways of supporting them. Time, money, sharing data, whatever it looks like. Building communities where someone feels safe enough to say, “I’m struggling.” Even if you can’t understand how someone can get there in their mind, don’t dismiss what they are walking through.  There is a difference between coddling and walking along side someone who is struggling.  Knowing that what they are walking through God knew would come to pass and still created them with love and purpose.  Even if you struggle to love or even like someone, know that God pursues their heart in the same way he does yours. He wants us all to come to Him. All can be redeemed. Don’t forget about the thief on the cross. “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭39‬-‭43‬.

Can I ask you all to do something for me? If you have someone in your life that you are even a little concerned about, will you please check in with them today. Just in a simple way, let someone know you are thinking about them.  When you are out, smile at a stranger. Will you be Tyler’s voice with me? Can we come together and make a difference? Please!  “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ .‭Let’s go out and be doers of the word. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus. Let our words speak life. We do not have to agree with people to be kind. We do not have to agree with people to love them. We are commanded to do so, in obedience, I will.

This year around 10,000,000 people in the United States will think about ending their life. Around 1,500,000 will attempt to end their life. We are losing about 130 people every day to suicide.  That is around 48,000 people who will die by suicide this year.

May God be with us as we endeavor to help these children of God see the sanctity of life. That yes, life can be hard but it is also beautiful and purposeful. That joy may have to be fought for but it is ours if we choose it.

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬