Value All Life

"You have conquered, and I yield. Yet, henceforward, art thou also dead - - dead to the World, to Heaven, and to Hope! In me didst thou exist - - and, in my death, see by this image, which is thine own, how utterly thou hast murdered thyself." ---Edgar Allen Poe

I find alarming the brutal death of four-year-old Ethan Stacy that took place in my own community. I have healed and processed the tragedy, but continue to be puzzled at how someone can take no value in human life. I can understand a moment of rage and horrific act resulting in a death. I cannot understand how someone can punish another human over a period of days, resulting in that human’s death. I guess I will have to process it as though young Ethan came into the presence of pure evil. Allowing evil or bad influence into our lives can and will infiltrate our own thoughts and behaviors. Ethan’s mother allowed this evil into her life and soon became exactly like the evil she allowed refuge. Of course, it could be that Ethan’s mother was the source of the evil itself and she influenced the evil acts that took place.

In the end, the part that bothers me most is how two people can value human life so little that they harm an innocent child and give up their own lives in the process. Honestly, how much trouble could a young four-year-old have been? My five-year-old is a handful and I know how a grown man can sometimes become so angry he has to be physical to release the tension. In these times, I always send my boy to his room. In reality, Dad is taking the timeout in this process. I look at the pictures of Ethan, I want him to be alive, and I want to adopt him. I read a comment by a young grandmother about the death of Ethan Stacy. She said she would no longer stay quiet when she sees injustice to children. She believes now that she should err on the side of the child and would rather apologize to an adult for wrongly accusing them of abuse than risk a child suffer.

I have made great progress on my journey the past two days. I feel much better and I am walking and exercising again. I am managing the pain from my herniated disc and I am staying on my plan. The weight gain from the past two weeks is nearly gone. I lost six pounds of it yesterday, which I believe was mostly water retention. The support from my family and friends has helped greatly. I feel better today and spending additional time with my children has helped process the Ethan Stacy tragedy. It is amazing how this touched me, since I never knew of Ethan until his death. It has touched thousands in this area. The father in me wants to protect him and give him a home of love and safety, but it is too late. I have hope that good things will come of this tragedy and people will become more diligent in looking out for children’s safety and welfare. I keep faith that everyone will value life more now and in the future. I know I certainly value my time and experiences with my children more.

"Beauty, of whatever kind, invariably excites the human soul to tears." ---Edgar Allan Poe

"Instead of tug o' war, let's play hug o' war!" ---Shel Silverstein