Life is Too Short

I am beyond words right now.  My heart is heavy with sadness, shock, and despair.  One of my students was killed this weekend because of a tragic brain injury.  Life is way. Too. Short. Period.  We (my teaching partner and I) only had Evan for three days...but he had an insurmountable sweetness about him--a personality with a quiet disposition, but at the same time was silly and goofy.  I had heard horror stories about teachers having to deal with death; but I never thought I would have to face such sadness.  Not only was he an amazing kid, his mom is one of our staples of our school family--our secretary--and for those of you who are familiar with school settings, you know that secretaries tend to run the school.  Our grieving is not just for this sweet boy, but for one of our own.  I keep thinking of the things he said to me in our short time together.  I keep picturing his smiling face and his bright green eyes at the back of the room.  I sang for his class right before lunch, and he came up to me right after and said "Ms. Rhody, do you know I've been wake boarding since I was three years old?!"  It made my heart melt because though his comment had nothing to do with my singing, I think because of my singing he was comfortable enough with me to share a proud moment of his.  I keep thinking that I saw him right away Friday morning, and he smiled and waved to me.  Did I smile big enough?  My teaching partner said that on the back of his math assessment, he wrote "So far I really like Mrs. M. and Ms. Rhody.  Ms. Rhody can sing really good and I really like 6th grade so far."  The "so far" part is what haunts me.  I grieve for his family.  His mom, his sister...I can't imagine what they are feeling; what they are going through. When people die, I think we automatically think of our own loved ones...I think of my nieces and nephews.  How precious they are and how I would feel if...Oh God...I can't even finish that sentence.  Life is short.  Cherish your loved ones.  Don't focus on the petty little things, but enjoy the petty little things.  Please pray for us tomorrow.  I keep picturing their sweet little 11 year old faces...and mostly his best friend who is in his class.  Please pray for strength.  I have no idea how I'm going to hold it together tomorrow.  Life is too short.  Enjoy the time you're given.