Saturday, June 09, 2007
Kelsey Smith Found But Lost Forever
Eighteen year old Kelsey Smith was found this past week. However, the family learned she will be forever lost to them. The teenager so full of life was found dead near a lake in Grandview Missouri.
What started out as a shopping spree at Target ended with funeral arrangements by a family devastated by tragedy.
Her father described her as being able to walk into"... a room full of strangers and walk out with a room full of friends." Unfortunately it was another kind of stranger that changed the life of the Smith family.
How my heart goes out to the Smith family and all who knew Kelsey.
Among the many questions that will be answered over the next few months and years are:
1. Will this shockwave bring the family closer together or drive them apart?
2. Will any good come from this very bad event?
3. Will we as a society learn what caused Edwin Hall to do this terrible thing?
4. Will we as a society learn to protect the Kelseys of the future?
5. Will we provide the support needed for the Smith family to go on with their lives?
As with any tragedy there are so many questions. At some point in the future the Smith family must move from asking why, to asking what now. It is not a move easily made. The burden of sorrow is great and the lifting so heavy. Moving is so frightening when the landscape has changed, become unfamiliar, and threatening. I pray that the Smith family will someday be able to make that move.
What started out as a shopping spree at Target ended with funeral arrangements by a family devastated by tragedy.
Her father described her as being able to walk into"... a room full of strangers and walk out with a room full of friends." Unfortunately it was another kind of stranger that changed the life of the Smith family.
How my heart goes out to the Smith family and all who knew Kelsey.
Among the many questions that will be answered over the next few months and years are:
1. Will this shockwave bring the family closer together or drive them apart?
2. Will any good come from this very bad event?
3. Will we as a society learn what caused Edwin Hall to do this terrible thing?
4. Will we as a society learn to protect the Kelseys of the future?
5. Will we provide the support needed for the Smith family to go on with their lives?
As with any tragedy there are so many questions. At some point in the future the Smith family must move from asking why, to asking what now. It is not a move easily made. The burden of sorrow is great and the lifting so heavy. Moving is so frightening when the landscape has changed, become unfamiliar, and threatening. I pray that the Smith family will someday be able to make that move.
# posted by survivors story @ 1:15 PM 
