Tarrell Morang is a good friend of mine. He's also a relatively new Christian, only a couple of years old in the faith. (You can see a video of his confession and baptism
here.) He, his wife, and their two children need our prayer right now. His eldest son (from a previous relationship), Kevyn, was just killed in a car accident. Kevyn was a rebellious teen, and Tarrell has been struggling for some time how to nurture the right kind of relationship. So far he is handling it quite well, which is recognizable as a miracle for those who knew him before he became a Christian. Nevertheless, he needs your prayer right now, and for some time to come. He and Kevyn, despite the patent tensions, were very close. Pray that this experience would be rightly formative for Tarrell at this early stage in his discipleship. Pray for Tarrell and Hiedi's children, for Tarrell and Hiedi's marriage. Pray for peace.
3 Comments:
"So far he is handling it quite well.."
I have lost a child the same way. I appeared strong and "coping well" to all those around me. Shock and numbness can do that. When the reality hits (and this may not be for a couple of months yet), Tarrell will need people around him who are not afraid to listen to his ramblings and his pain. Be ready, and never assume that because he looks as if he is holding it all together, that he is. Don't be afraid of mentioning his son's name. And don't feel as if you have to solve anything. Please don't say the stupid things that people feel obliged to say to somehow make it "better". It doesn't. Just listen. Sorry if this sounds like I might be ranting, but unless you have been through this sort of thing, you really don't have a clue what it is like. Our culture doesn't handle grief well, and treats it like it's something that need specialist counselling because it is somehow unhealthy and abberant. Grief is a normal reaction to a loss, it takes time to resolve, and can't be hurried - especially when a child dies. It will take Tarrell a couple of years to feel normal again, not a couple of days, weeks or months. And that's ok.
Thank you, Daisy. This certainly is sound counsel, and I and others around Tarrell will be sure to do our best to appropriate it.
When I said that he was, so far, handling it quite well, I didn't intend to suggest that he's already gotten everything straightened out. All I meant by that is, so far, he hasn't descended into depression and drug use and all that, as he would have immediately had this happened two years ago. That is a testament to God's work in his life. But I'm sure Tarrell has a lot of turmoil ahead of him.
Thanks for the encouragement, and for sharing your experience. God bless.
Daisy is right,
When my wife died, so many 'outsiders' thought I was handling it so well. It took me 8 years to even enjoy Christmas again, so yes, let him grieve.
There is a hole in his life that will never, ever be whole again. He may be able to stop the bleeding pain, but the scar will remain.
Most merciful God, Whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with Tarrell and his family in their grief. Surround them with Your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in Your goodness and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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