When it rains, it pours. 

Two different people associated with two different friends of mine, decided to give Shakespeare their final answer, “Not to be” and end their own lives. 

I didn’t know either of these obviously sad people but my heart has grieved right along with the friends and family they left behind.  When I received the news five days apart over a seven-day period, the title to the theme from M*A*S*H, “Suicide Is Painless”, instantly came to mind.  The irony of the title and the devastation left behind by the subject of the song was not lost on me.

Suicide is not painless.  It hurts the person who chooses it all.  It most certainly hurts their family and friends.  It hurts those close to the families and friends.  It hurts those who hear the shot or find the body.  It just plain hurts.

To those of you who have lost a friend or loved one through suicide, don’t feel ashamed, that you are to blame, or that there was something more that you could’ve have done.  While such introspection can help us be better friends to everyone, taking responsibility of someone’s suicide is a load not intended for the survivors.  Drop that load from your shoulders immediately.  It’s not yours to bear.

I’ve heard it said that suicide is the sincerest form of criticism.  I’ve also heard it described as ones final selfish act.  I suspect that, while both are likely true in some cases, self-criticism is at the core of most suicides.

I’m sure that most of you reading this piece have felt, at one time or another, that life just isn’t worth living.  I know that, in my darkest days, learning the hard way just how dark a night can get, I wished I wouldn’t wake up the next morning.  I tweaked my childhood prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.  I pray I die before I wake, and pray the Lord my soul to take.”

I was under-employed and the resulting financial pressures were immense.  I can honestly say that friends that I thought were close had abandoned me.  To put it plainly, life sucked.  It didn’t appear to suck.  It really sucked.  Really. 

By the grace and divine strength of a loving God, I was able to survive the darkness of those days.  One breath at a time.  One step at a time.  One day at a time, God saw me through to brighter, happier times. 

If you’re experiencing a total eclipse of sunshine in your life and you feel like putting your life to an end, don’t.  Despite how dark your today seems, tomorrow WILL be better.  No, I haven’t OD’d on “LaLa Juice” or viewing the world through rose-colored classes.  My statement is based on my own personal experiences and I’m certainly no one special.  Like you, I’ve experienced the extreme lows of life but have lived to see another, better day.  You will, too.

If times are tough for you, and there are countless thousands going through very tough times right now, don’t give up hope.  Tomorrow will be better.  It’s up to you and you CAN do it!  Even though you feel like you can’t take another step, you can and you will.  If I can, you can.  I’m no one special but you are so I know that you can pull through this.

If you feel that you want to take your life, please seek professional help.  There is nothing wrong with doing so.  It’s not a sign of weakness.  I dare say that it’s a sign of incredible strength to acknowledge that you need help.  Take that first step towards life by seeking competent help. 

C’mon, I’ll join you by telling Shakespeare that your final answer is, “To be”.