Christie’s Gift can be Kyle’s Gift
October 23, 2009
It has been a rough week at work for me. Church matters have also been challenging this week. The week cumlminated with the news that Kyle Stevens, a student of Jenny and mine took his own life sometime yesterday afternoon.
My heart aches.
But not nearly as much as his parent’s, his brother’s, and all of his extended family, his friends and classmates, teacher’s, and countless others that have laughed, cried, wrestled, studied, and journeyed with him over his 18 years on this earth. I am left with the question in my heart and mind that says “should I have done something else….was there a word, a story, a hug, more time that I should have spent with Kyle in the two years that I spent 186 days with him? Those are questions that only God can answer for me and for the countless others that are hurting for Kyle.
Christy Anna Neil……..my sister. Gone since 1991 as the result of an attempted suicide that turned into the most important 19 days of my life. Days of intense restoring relationship with a sister that I had not known well.
You see, amidst all of the tragedy of her battle with a lung disease that developed as a result of her suicide attempt she was able to have her hope and heart restored with God. My witness to that transformation was what allowed my heart and mind to allow God to begin his transformation of my heart. From tragedy to triumph.
My prayer is that one shall be saved by Kyle’s tragedy………………a gift to one or many.
Below is a poem that was written by my daughter Summer who is in 2nd grade. She presented this to me after I had been home about 45 minutes this evening (she could sense that my heart is aching and wanted to fill it with hope).
Are powrfol God
are wonderfoll God are
Porerfoll God are God
rools the evens above and
the erth beloe are wonderfol
powerfoll God he is are God
the King he rools he is
the King.
..by Summer
…to my dad
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to read the rest from this author. Scott Neil is a Kayaker. 
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Beautiful. Tragic. Penetrating. Powerful. And sweet. Thank you so much for sharing this vulnerable story. This is what the ConneXions community is all about! Redeeming pain. Reframing tragedy. Speaking faith into the lives of people who know they live in world without easy answers–and choose to believe anyway.
Thank you Scott. Thank you Summer.
Dito to what Marc says.
Thank you Scott and Summer.