The Lessons Learned From Great Loss

 On June 10th, 2022, I received the call that any parent dreads. My son had been wounded by a gunshot. The immediate tightness that I felt in my chest rendered me numb. Instantly,  I was lost. All I could do was pray and wait. 

In the early morning of June 11th, 2022, I received the other call that was a parent's nightmare. My son lost his battle. He didn't make it. At the age of 25, my firstborn was gone. 

I lost it. The walls around me crumbled. The pain I felt didn't allow me to scream out loud. All I could do was moan. The sound was guttural. It was almost animalistic. 

How could this be my life? How could this happen to us? Why would the God I have always been told was such a merciful God do this to someone who has always had faith in Him? What the hell had I done to deserve this!?!

I went through every emotion there was. Eventually, I did scream...in between the crying spells. For weeks, all I could do was lie in my bed. I moaned. I wept. I cried. I cursed God. I cursed the world. I asked God to take me too. 

The idea of my son not being alive was unfathomable. Still, I had to come to terms with what was now my reality. I also had to come to terms with the fact that life had to go on. At the time, I didn't see how. People would say, "You have other children to live for." Most of the time, I wanted to spit on them.

Yet, I knew that there was something to be learned from this. There had to be! I began to think about my son and all of the dreams he had. All of the things he would never get to realize. Then BOOM!!! It came to me.

 

Click "BOOM!" for a treat

Life is too short. Tomorrow isn't promised. We need to learn to live life to the fullest, without fear, and take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself to us. Instead of living within the confines of what society thinks is acceptable...be outstanding! Be unapologetically you! Forgive people who have never apologized. Offer apologies to those you feel you owe them to. Let go of grudges so that you can have peace in your spirit. 

The greatest lesson I learned from this great loss was the power of LOVE. Although he is not here physically, I still and always will love my son. Love transcends dimensions and realms. Love is everlasting.

Until We Meet Again 

Isaiah T.  Bowman

1/29/1997 - 6/11/2022