As the title of today’s post suggests, today has been a bit of a “black” day for me, with a number of upsetting and sad events/news reaching me.
Firstly, I received a phone call from a work mate to let me know that the young boy murdered earlier this week in Blantyre was the nephew of one of my managers. I was obviously shocked by the news and as it began to sink in I felt very numb and useless as words just simply aren’t adequate to express how I feel nevermind how his family and friends must be feeling.
I had read the story of Reamonn Gormley’s murder in the papers on Wednesday – he was killed in an unprovoked attack on Tuesday evening after he left a local pub where he’d been watching the Aberdeen v Celtic football match, to go home. You can read more about this on the STV news site: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/225927-man-arrested-over-murder-of-reamonn-gormley/
I cannot begin to imagine how Reamonn’s family and friends are feeling, but I do know that many people (including many who never knew Reamonn) will be praying for them at this time. During a time like this I’m sure they may feel God has deserted them, however that couldn’t be further from the truth – God is there and He does care.
Ever since I heard the news I’ve found I can’t get it out my mind, and therefore I’ve spent a lot of time today in quietness praying – Praying that Reamonn’s family and friends will be aware of God’s presence and the comfort and love He can provide for them. I didn’t know Reamonn, however like many others he and his family and friends, have been in my thoughts and prayers today.
The next “black” spot on my day was this afternoon when for a number of hours I experienced some of the worst pain I’ve had in some time. As many of you will know, I’ve struggled with a lot of pain for some time, however today’s was at more severe level than it has been for some time. Thankfully now I’m just about pain free again, so that “blackness” is now more “grey”.
As if my day couldn’t have any more blackness, just before dinner tonight, I got a phone call from my Mum to tell me that my Aunt (my Dada’s sister who lives in Ipswich) had phoned to say my Uncle had died yesterday. He had been in hospital for a few days, but hadn’t been to well for quite some time. Even though my Uncle hadn’t been well for a while it’s still awful when you hear the news that a family member has died. I think for Mum (and probably Dad too), what makes this worse is that because my Aunt and Uncle live in Ipswich, there’s no way they can travel down there to support my Aunt and the rest of their family during this time or for the funeral.
I spent quite a lot of time with my Aunt and Uncle over the years – Mum, Dad and me used to spend most of our summer holidays with my Aunt and Uncle and their family right up until my latter teenage years. I also spent 4 weeks with them in Perth, Australia one summer when my Uncle spent several years working for the university in Perth.
Rest in peace Reamonn. Please keep Reamonn and his family and friends in your prayers during these awful days.
Rest in peace Uncle Michael. Please keep my Aunt and the rest of my family in your prayers in the coming days.
Thank you.
