Questions, always
In this day and age I continuously wonder how much shock value I have left in me when it comes to news of violence and crime, especially within the family. Oh, to heck with the shock value – what about the age-old question… why.
Just why.
The latest murder-suicide combo in Gastonia – a husband and wife who were upstanding citizens of the community and were well-known for helping people in need. She was a cheerleading coach and teacher, he was a county building inspector who helped out and volunteered at the school with his wife. Friends, teachers, and students alike loved and respected them both. They also had children, though the news didn’t list their ages.
Just what is it that makes the human brain snap? Is it a split-second occurrence, is it something that’s carefully calculated… are the consequences even considered? Is a chemically-imbalanced person even able to conceive of the repercussions of their actions? Did these family members used to sit around and have conversations about this kind of violence and how awful it is, thinking nothing like that could ever happen to them?
I just don’t get it. I guess we’re not meant to get it.
Life of Bon 
I don’t get it either,Bonnie, but I expect that harsh economic woes around the globe add more stress to people on the brink. It’s very sad. I don’t really know how anyone copes without the comfort of Jesus. I don’t know where I’d be without Him and the assurance of His provision. I repeat a phrase often quoted: But for the grace of God go I.
October 18, 2010 at 10:51 am
That’s a phrase that bears repeating, Carol Ann. The only real means of getting through something like this. Great insight.
October 18, 2010 at 8:40 pm
It’s a sad story indeed. I was raised in a family that was no stranger to abuse. I can tell you, that man didn’t just “snap” one day and kill his wife and himself. I will bet my life that there was abuse in that family. The saying, “You never know what happens behind closed doors” is for the most part very true. My very best friends didn’t know just how bad things were in my house. I was taught to NEVER talk about it to ANYONE! For the longest time I thought everyone’s family was like mine. I thought beating your wife and child was normal. and that like me, my friends didn’t talk about it. What a shock it was to learn my family was no where near normal! My heart goes out to the kids. I heard they were teenagers, and even though it’s never a good age to lose your parents, being teenagers is the worst age for it to happen. These kids are going to need help dealing with this and I hope someone will step up and make sure they get it. Like I said before…there were problems in that marriage and she may have been ready to leave him. We will never know why he did what he did, and it’s tragic. The sad part is…this type of killing will continue as long as the abused person keeps it a secret. My thoughts and prayers are with this family and I pray that at some point these two children will be able to heal and put their lives back together.
October 18, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I hate to hear of yet another story of abuse, Helen. I’m sorry you had to go through that, and yes – the silence is deafening. You’re right, we’ll probably never know what really happened. I, like you, really hate it for the kids. I pray God wraps them both in his loving arms and holds them safe and tight, it’s the only way. So very very sad.
October 18, 2010 at 8:42 pm