Thursday, March 13, 2008

sad news

this morning started with tragic news ... my cousin, only 48 years old, died suddenly ... in much the same way as leo's sister ... a prolonged headache ... an aneurysm ... then death ...

he lived in finland ... the distance is great ... yet the grief that my family over there is feeling - is felt here in our home too ...

just another reminder of our mortality ... the brevity of life ... and a need to live each day, as if it were our last ...

16 comments:

Mari said...

I'm so sorry Saija. It is extra hard when so young and so sudden. I'll be praying for you and your family.

Anonymous said...

I pray that God will be your comfort at this time.

I lost my mother to an aneurysm just over 21 years ago. She had been in a coma from the aneurysm for many months leading up to her death.

Anonymous said...

Oh so sorry, dear Saija!! It is hard to loose our loved ones, and when they are still rather young, it is harder yet!! Blessings on you and may the FATHER help you in this difficult time!!
Elizabeth

Ginger said...

What a terrible tragedy, Saija. Thinking of you during this time.

Amrita said...

May the Lord comfort you and your family. This is a sudden tragedy. Must be hard for all of you.

May you feel the Lord 's embrace.

jettybetty said...

That is sad news. May God comfort your whole family.

eija said...

I'm sorry, Saija. For you and your cousin's family, and everyone involved.

Pat said...

So young - it really does make a person think of our own mortality. My aunt also died of an aneurysm - preceeded by a terrible headache. The doctor said that if she hadn't taken an aspirin perhaps she might have survived because the aspirin thinned her blood causing extensive bleeding.
My feeling? God knows the number of our days.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family.

Felisol said...

Dear Saija,
I am deeply sorry for your loss.
Sometimes it feels even worse when the person you've lost was so far away.
It's not an empty comfort that we'll all meet in Heaven, though.
It's our solemn hope and true promise.
Once, I should have liked to meet you here as well.
If you ever go to Suomi the distance will not be long...
I greet you with my favorite John Donne:
No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls
it tolls for thee.


-- John Donne
and Felisol

Saija said...

i believe our days are numbered ... God knows when we are formed and when we die ...

of course that doesn't make the parting easier ...

i have been e-mailing with my cousins and spoken to some of the family ... they are still in shock, though i am getting a sense of acceptance in today's e-mails ... i'm so glad that God starts to heal the broken hearted right away ... how else could we stand these tragedies?

((hugs)) to you dear blog buds ...

daisymarie said...

praying for grace to envelope you and leo!

jel said...

sorry !


huggs

Mimi said...

Saija,
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your cousin...I know this will be very difficult for your family as he was in the prime of life...but you are right...God knew when he was born that he would be on earth only 48 years...
prayers for you and your family in Finland,
Mimi

Catherine said...

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. I know what it's like to lose someone so young, so suddenly -- I don't think you ever really get over the shock.

**hugs**

Mrs. Mac said...

God does heal the broken hearted but it is still a painful experience. May His love engulf you and your family as the healing process begins.

~~Deby said...

(((HUGS)))
Sharing your grief God indeed does number our days but I also believe that HE understands our shock, our sadness and is big enough to even listen when we say *why*.....it is still hard,this I KNOW, personally.
Deby