The brother of a childhood friend (you know, the kind you remember driving you crazy at sleepovers) committed suicide this morning.

A young woman (the same age as my #3 kid) was killed in a car accident hours before.

I weep for the loved ones left behind... parents, siblings, loved ones.

I weep for the untimely loss of life of a woman perched on the edge of adulthood. I weep for her parents, her siblings, and her friends.

I weep for the family of my childhood friend whose family has been touched by suicide. I cannot imagine the kind of vicious attack generated by the enemy of our souls that drives one to self-terminate. My husband spent the day talking with a family member whose life was directly impacted by suicide a few weeks ago. Last month he attended the memorial of a young man who took his own life.

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. "Accidents happen" doesn't begin to salve the heart of a grieving parent. There's nothing simple about suicide. It's not an "easy way out" for anyone. The pain and grief are multiplied for the family members left behind.

I don't care who you are, or what you've done... you are loved. More than you know. You might not "feel" it, but the love is there. You have a positive impact on the people around you. Your life matters. You are important and you are valuable. God loves you so much He sent His Son to take your place on a cross fashioned from guilt and shame and sin and failure and torment.

Life is so much more than the 0+ years we have on this planet. At the same time, every one of us has a responsibility to appreciate what we've been given, the relationships with which we've been blessed by our Creator. Take a moment to hug the ones you love. And take a moment to remember that YOU, flawed as you might perceive yourself to be, are loved, valuable, and important.