This week's dilemma comes from Karen. It's a sensitive one.
A young friend of Karen's – someone she considered as one of her own children – has taken her life. This has left Karen and her family understandably devastated.
Karen is so upset about the sudden death of this child that she doesn’t think she can go to the funeral, which is being held on Monday.
She says her family understands her not wanting to go, even though they think it would be a good idea for her to attend. But Karen's friends are upset that she’s considering not attending. Karen wants to know if it’s as bad as her friends are making out..
DISCUSSION POINTS:
- Should you consider not going to a funeral if it’s going to be too upsetting? (And you fear that you might make a scene.)
- Or should you put your own pain aside and be strong for the sake of the child’s family? (And maybe leave early if it becomes too much)
Either way it’s a risk—go and risk upsetting others, or stay home and risk offending people. What should Karen do?
Comments (2)
I just want to say thanks to everyone at Openhouse for caring, praying & all the very sound advice from the callers. I did attend the funeral with my family & it was very emotional, but everyone was crying, it was impossible to really comprehend what was going on.
I did feel better to go and say a final goodbye to her body, as her spirit was gone the moment she ended her short life on this earth.
This young girl gave her heart to Jesus. In the week before she died we had one last phone call, and we talked long about God's pure & unconditional love and what lay ahead for us in heaven. In hindsight I feel she was trying to say goodbye, she forgave her parents as I had asked her to--life is too hard when you don't forgive.
Please pray for the family. And again thank you for everything: openhouse is such an amazing idea ! I have been tuning in every Sunday, our family love to listen to it and it is a great way to send out the message that someone cares !
Posted by Karen | November 25, 2007 6:26 PM
Posted on November 25, 2007 18:26
flip, if she doesn't feel comfortable going then what kind of people would try to pressure her into going against her will? It's not about making a scene or even about making a kind gesture for the sake of the family but if someone close to you has died, then you need to grieve however is best to you. If that means going to the funeral then do that, if it means staying home and sorting it out in her own head then do that. The point is not about whether or not she should go but the point is more what kind of people do her friends think they trying to pressure into something when she's so upset? Not cool
Posted by Cam McLeish | November 4, 2007 11:22 PM
Posted on November 4, 2007 23:22