About a month ago, a young woman who had been my student completed suicide. She struggled with trauma from a childhood with an abusive father. I will never forget walking up to her mom after the funeral service in the church and her mom falling into my arms weeping as I held her.
We never know what someone is going through unless we take the time to listen, to really listen. Alisa Turner, one of my favorite artists, has a new song called The Letter. The song is about a letter being written by someone who is close to attempting suicide but in the end chooses not to. I loved what she wrote in her Facebook to introduce the song:
“If listening to it made you emotional or even uncomfortable, good. Because there is nothing about suffering in any capacity that is comfortable. So often when a suicide happens there’s a crowd that can’t fathom what would make a person do such a thing. Perhaps the “The Letter” let you feel even a 10th of an inch of the wreckage that person may have been battling, for we will never truly know as no one walks anyone else’s road but their own. You really don’t know what the person next to you is going through…they may have filled you in on the details, the big picture, but it’s those small breaths in between, quiet gentle gasps they hope no one hears, out of fear of judgement or worse, being misunderstood. And just because they don’t show you, doesn’t mean you did anything wrong… you may have loved them so well. But we have to accept we don’t really know what anyone else is truly, truly going through. So best to just keep showing up when they let you, and even when they dont 
….and to the person sitting on the edge. If you don’t mind, I’ll take a seat right next to you. We don’t have to talk, or we can. I don’t know that I have any answers, because life truly is brutal enough for some people to drive you to such edge. But for this moment, Ill just sit right here on your edge if that’s ok I will tell you what you already know, that you are not alone and you are very, very loved. I will tell you anything to make you stay so I can then show you why it was worth staying. But I also understand if you don’t. I get it. I really do. In my own way, I know, I know, I know, I know.”
I love the part- “and to the person sitting on the edge, if you don’t mind, I’ll take a seat right next to you.”
My friends if you ever need, I will sit on the edge with you. I will listen. You are so precious to Jesus. Jesus loves you so much. I will sit on the edge with you because I know how it feels to wonder if there is hope. I also know how it feels to discover hope. But I will sit in silence if that is what you need.
Even if you are just experiencing a rough time with no thoughts of anything drastic and just need someone to listen, I will listen.
Dear reader there are so many hurting people now. Let’s listen to them.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
Jesusluvsall's Blog 
Suicide is a hard death to grieve for those left behind. So many it seems younger people are loosing hope, and not able to see any light in their lives. It is heartbreaking. Being one who has dealt with this first hand it just a raw pain. I feel for my dad, but I also felt for us that he left behind. I was so young, and the way he went out was pretty in your face. God has been faithful over the years to help me forgive, as well have understanding for his mental anguish. I just wish back in the 80’s there was the kind of help there is today. Thank you for sharing. May her family find a peace that surpasses all understanding in this time of grief. Blessings
Prayed for you little sister
The lyrics speak volumes. Even our silent presence can be a comfort if only we would lend a listening ear to them. 💯
I pray for God’s strength to every aching and weary heart. 🙏
Be good too, big bro. 🤗
Thank you little sister
I will sit on the edge with you because I know how it feels to wonder if there is hope. I also know how it feels to discover hope. But I will sit in silence if that is what you need….
I have no words because this truly is an article that speaks to the heart. That’s the part I love the most but…..because the silent understanding of a genuine well wisher is so precious indeed…
Yes it is. Jesus loves you little sister
🎀🤩🎀🌻🎀🌻🎀🌻🎀
Oh my so sorry for your loss. May Jesus comfort you all through this season. So sad to hear. Breaks my heart.
Thank you little sister. How are you?
I am good my brother, God is good to me, I cannot complain!
Have a great night!
You too little sister 🙂
Thank you for sharing this. As you know, we are still grieving the suicide of a dear friend who left us in June.
Yes I know. It is so sad
Thank you for this. It brought on a lot of emotion reading the words.
It is emotional. Remember you are so important to Jesus.
Thank you!! He keeps me going each and everyday.
I am glad to hear that. Step by step little sister 🙂
So glad you introduced me to her through her song ‘Safe ’.. love her music …what a great message she wrote for this new song. I’m excited to go listen to it!
I love her music
Same!!
Sorry for your loss Matt, that’s gotta be so hard…not sure how I feel about the song, so eerie hearing those “first person” words.
I understand how you feel that way
I love the concept of sitting on the edge together. I’ve been thinking about this a lot since suicide awareness month. My therapist suggested making an emotional “emergency first aid kit” for hard moments, and writing down the phone numbers of those people who are willing to sit in the hard with you was one of her ideas to put on the list. Being that for someone else is also a precious gift. I think we all know someone who struggles, even if we don’t know, so we have to pay attention and live worthy of people’s trust.
If you ever need to talk little sister, you can email me at chatwithjesusluvsll@gmail.com
Thank you 🤗
🙂
Also, I’m so sorry for your lost, big brother 🙏🏼
Thank you
Thank you little sister 🙂