SUICIDE

My brother and I have been really close all our lives. Growing up in an abusive home my brother was always my protection, my friend, my playmate and my shelter in the storm.  I never knew how close he came to taking his life, until I read his story from a book he was putting together. I want to share with you a portion of my brother's story below:

“I want to take the time to thank everyone who has entered my life over the last forty odd years. May it be joyous or even the heart ache, I Thank You. Yes even the pain. People we have to feel the pain in order to move on and grow. You just can't take pills and anti – depressants to take the pain away. We have to feel it or we will never deal with the heartache. You are just kidding yourself if you think you will get over something or someone by using medication. All you are doing is just sugarcoating the lessons you were suppose to learn.

I know sometimes you feel that you are at the bottom of the hill and you feel that you just can't go on, yes even suicide looks attractive, but believe me it's not the answer. I know, I was there some time back in my life. There I was sitting in the hot bath, the knife lying next to me. Oh believe me I had it all planned, I could see my funeral, who would be there, the tears, the whole bang shoot. The people who I had felt had done me in, the remorse they would feel, as they wonder.... did I do this.

The satisfaction of watching them at my graveside. Then I saw the people that were so close to me. My wife and her family, my sister her husband and their two boys, my parents. I saw the hurt and betrayal in their eyes, How could I even think of doing this to them? It was so cruel. How could I just sit there feeling sorry for myself when my Mom was fighting for her life, a battle with cancer? She always said to me that she was not dying from cancer but living with it! My mom has since found it easier to keep a watchful eye on me from above. “Love you Mommy, XX”

I never believed in depression until I fell prey to it. It brings a whole new meaning to the word when you suffer from it, you feel so helpless and defenseless. I was lucky that I had a support group of friends and family around me. I don't think they even knew how close they came to being at my funeral, and I am so grateful that it never happened. Man, I have experienced so much since then. Believe me I'm still learning every day.

I have learned to embrace what life sends my way. I also know that I do make a difference in some people’s lives. There is so much to tell but right now is not the right time. I just hope that this reaches the person it was meant for.”

When I read this, I wondered how I had missed all the signs. How had my life become too busy to notice the place he was in, or for my brother to have not spoken to me about this? Sadly some people never get a chance to change their mind like my brother did.

I watched a sermon last night, where the preacher was preaching on true repentance and how we never see revivals any more. He said it’s because people have become too proud to humble themselves to the point of saying I am sorry, and admitting and getting to the point of true repentance.


2 Chronicles 7:14 “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
All God is asking, is for us to humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways and forgiveness is ours to take.
He mentioned that some people carry around this hurt and sadness of never getting an opportunity to tell the one person who they feel they need to make right with, as they have passed away or moved away, but he started to sing the old hymn which goes like this; 
“What can wash away my sin? What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood, nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! Precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”


There is nothing that the blood of Jesus cannot cleanse. It’s no small thing that Jesus gave his life for you and me, for us to be free, so don’t carry around this burden. If you have the opportunity to make right with someone, don’t wait until it may be too late, humble yourself and God said he will heal your land and restore wholeness again.
Why I mentioned all of this, is if my brother had taken his life, I would have been carrying this burden, as many do. I would never have had the opportunity of saying sorry for a hurt I had caused him so many years ago. And I would have been one of those standing at his funeral asking if I was to blame for this? 
God spared us both now into our 40’s and I have been able to say I am sorry for what happened all those years ago. Don’t allow life to become too busy for the ones around you, or wait for tomorrow to admit you have made mistakes and say you’re sorry. God's word never changes, and His love for us never fails. No matter what you have done, Gods grace is sufficient to cover a multitude of sins. If you are carrying the guilt or the hurt for someone who has taken their life, God says in Matthew 11.28, “Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  Jesus gave his life for you, made you in His own image, knew you before you were even formed and He loves you unconditionally and does not want you to be burdened any more.

Do you know 70% of people who commit suicide tell someone about their plans, or give some other type of warning signs?
If you know the signs you may be in a position to help someone get help before they take the one action that cannot be taken back.
Warning signs of suicide are not that difficult to spot. There is a difference between someone who simply has a passing thought of suicide or of ending his or her own life, and someone who is more serious and has a definite plan. You don’t have to know how serious a person is in order to help them, though. Your friend or loved one just needs to know you’re there for them, that you care and that you will support them no matter what. Remember, depression is a treatable mental disorder, it’s not something you can “catch” or a sign of personal weakness.


Here are Some Suicide Warning Signs
Have you ever heard someone say two or more of the following?
• Life isn’t worth living
• You’ll be sorry when I’m gone
• I won’t be in your way much longer
• There’s nothing I can do to make it better
• I’d be better off dead
• I feel like there is no way out
• My family (or friends or girlfriend/boyfriend) would be better off without me
• Don’t worry, I won’t be around to deal with that
• I just can’t deal with everything — life’s too hard
• I won’t be a burden much longer
• Nobody understands me — nobody feels the way I do
• Next time I’ll take enough pills to do the job right
• Take my prized collection or valuables — I don’t need this stuff anymore
Have you noticed them doing one or more of the following activities?
• Getting affairs in order (paying off debts, changing a will)
• Giving away articles of either personal or monetary value
• Thoughts of death, suicide, or wishes to be dead
• Signs of planning a suicide such as obtaining a weapon or writing a suicide note
• Thoughts of death, suicide, or wishes to be dead
A suicidal person may not ask for help, but that doesn't mean that help isn't wanted. People who take their lives don't want to die—they just want to stop hurting.

WHAT TO DO
Get professional help. Do everything in your power to get a suicidal person the help he or she needs. Call a crisis line for advice and referrals. Encourage the person to see a mental health professional, help locate a treatment facility, or take them to a doctor's appointment.

Here is a very helpful link for more information http://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-helping-someone-who-is-suicidal.htm