As I write this antics its been exactly one week since my little sister Lisa's life was taken by a hit and run driver. She was out jogging alongside the Fortress golf course in Frankenmuth early that morning before she went to work when she was hit from behind with such force that it knocked her out of her tennis shoes and killed her on impact. And yet the driver didn't stop...
I'm sure it goes without saying that this past week has been one of the most emotionally painful weeks of my family's lives...just brutal. And although it won't bring my sister back, trying to make sense of this young man's actions (who has now come forward) has been extremely hard to wrap our heads around. It is with utter disbelief that we try to fathom hitting a person and leaving them alongside the road not even knowing if she were dead or alive.
From this tragic loss of my sister and the horrible judgment of this young man it would be tempting to lose faith in the character of humankind. And yet from this darkness has come SO much light.
For example..the first night on our way home from Frankenmuth Brie and I were struggling to control our emotions and openly weeping as we were seated at Pizzeria Uno...a woman approached us mid meal and said she had seen my sister on the news and wanted to express her condolences. When we went to leave the waiter informed us that someone in the restaurant had paid our bill!
My family has been shown love in so many other ways as well this
week...cards...flowers...texts...calls...food...friend elves who snuck in and cleaned our house while we were gone...old and brand new friends alike who made the trek to Muth to support us at the viewing...a whole section of the church filled with our Body Language and Lake Sherwood friends...another section filled with every team mate of my nephew Josh's high school football team...a couple of my best of friends who even stood by my side at the grave site...even texts that I was greeted with each morning like "you've got this" texts reminding me to eat something substantial like eggs as it wasn't going to be an "oatmeal kind of day." The little things...the big things...just all wrapped up into a whole bunch of love and support for me and my family this past week. And all these examples of love and goodness in people also served as a reminder for us not to get swallowed up by the darkness we find ourselves in or to be discouraged by the darkness in others when there is so much light and goodness to lift us out of the darkness.
I know its going to be awhile before the tears stop flooding but amidst the tears thank you for the laughs as we celebrate the 49 years of her life. Thank you for the hugs. Thank you for allowing us to cry. Thank you for the countless ways you have loved on me and my family this past week. Thank you for an amazing BL team of managers who have jumped in and taken over and allowed me the space to grieve and to be with my family. I have never been more grateful for our Body Language family. Thank you for being a light in our darkness. Thank you.
