As I was reading through the book of essays, “Lights of the Long Night” caught my attention. It triggered the memory of an evening about seven years ago, and a phone call that we received. My cousin, Jason, had been taken to the hospital after a bad car accident.
The family had just finished attending church on a Sunday evening, and everyone was making their way outside. After an argument with his girlfriend, Jason took off in his car towards his home. Several other friends from church including his girlfriend and his parents were on the road not far behind Jason. This stretch of road was a dangerous one, but those who traveled it frequently sometimes took its danger for granted. Jason was one of those people. He pulled into the opposite lane to pass a car, and before he could get back into his own lane, suddenly, a car coming from the opposite direction was right in front of him. They hit head on. Jason’s car rolled over an embankment and landed in a field. I vividly imagine the anguish and the fear that his girlfriend and his parents must have felt when they came upon the accident, and went down to the car. Jason was pinned in the car, and was badly hurt, but still alive.
When the second call came informing us that he had died, it was the first time, at age eleven, that I remember having to deal with a death in the family. Everyone was very upset. Chris, my oldest brother, was very close to Jason and had worked with him in business. The morning after the accident Chris was so preoccupied that he pulled right out in front of a car while on his way to work.
As hard as the loss was for friends and family, it was devastating for Jason’s parents. You see, he was their only child, and at the young age of twenty-three, he was no longer with them. They hold a strong spiritual belief that has helped them to deal with living without him here on this earth. They know that they will see Jason again, and that’s what gets them through each day. God has also blessed them with a son that they adopted four years ago. It is amazing to see how much he favors Jason, and his parents, in his looks and personality.
I am reminded every time that I see them what a loss that they have suffered, but also what a wonderful blessing they have received in their son-Anthony.