Wednesday, November 10, 2010

It Gets Better


I was drawn into the search for a suicidal 17 year-old boy yesterday. At the time, I didn't know that he had left a note for his parents telling them he was going to step in front of a train. All I had was a father asking me if I had seen a teen aged boy in a dark coat. When I asked if the boy was okay, and his father said he hoped so, I considered myself a recruit. For more than an hour, I wandered the railroad tracks, the riverbank and some hiking trails. I didn't know any details, but I knew that I was looking for someone's baby. Someone's baby who was suffering. Someone's baby who needed to know that It Gets Better. No matter what. It Gets Better.

Luckily, this boy gets a chance to learn that. No trains were running on our local line yesterday due to scheduled maintenance. An alert friend told the boy's parents their son was making ominous threats. Astute railroad workers were able to give police sightings and timelines. He was eventually reunited with his parents and is now getting a chance to receive help for his problems.

I know that It Gets Better started in the wake of the recent suicides as a result of ignorance and bullying of gay, lesbian and transgender teens, but I think it applies to all of us. Gay, straight, bi, white, black, green, purple. All of us. Take the time to look around you. Notice people. Everybody travels this journey with their own set of concerns. Some have problems that they feel are insurmountable. Especially children. Take some time to let them know: It Gets Better.

Life is short and we never have enough time for gladdening
the hearts of those who travel the way with us.
Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind!
Henri Frederic Amiel

33 comments:

tj said...

...Wow. Just wow. This gave me goosebumps... I'm so happy that this boy was found and that he is okay for one day he will look back upon this and be thankful.

...Such a great message MPM! You my dear are an Angel. ;o)

...Blessings...

Nurse Nancy said...

Thank God the trains were not running...and thank God for people like you who are willing to get involved.

Glad he is going to be "OK"

abb said...

I was just getting ready to call you to see how things went yesterday. I'm so GLAD it was a good outcome.

Your message is powerful today.

abb said...

A worthy site:

http://www.outofthedarkness.org/

Trisha said...

Bless you for helping!

The movement to help children understand that "It Gets Better" has been needed for a long time. Let's all pray that it makes a difference!

Daryl said...

Thank you for a truly amazing post .. and for being who you are

I Am Woody said...

You are an angel. So many, too many, people would have just said no and gone about their business. Thank God this family found their child. Hopefully, he can get the help he needs.

Hilary said...

Hugs to you for getting involved. Thanks for sharing this fine message.

Country Girl said...

Oh, Lauren. Our principal e-mailed each of us a story from the Washington Post the other day where a family was celebrating what would have been the 17th birthday of their son who took his life last May. He'd been bullied to death after their move from TX to VA. The high school said there wasn't anything they could do. Which is bullshit.

So glad this story has a happy ending.

deborah said...

It really does get better and you are indeed an angel. I'm so happy the young man was found-

judi/Gmj said...

I'm Moved by MPM.

big hair envy said...

Amen, Mama. Thanks for sharing this today.

Keetha said...

Thank you for this. I have cold chills. I'm so glad this story turns out okay, okay in that the child is still alive. I hope he knows it gets better.

Oh, great, now I'm crying. Thank you again for a wonderful message.

LL Cool Joe said...

My brother tried to commit suicide when he was in his early 20's. He's now married with 3 wonderful kids. Yes it does get better.

kim-d said...

My heart just breaks at this. I am so glad at the outcome here, but just so, so sorry that it had to happen at all.

I don't understand bullying, being mean and trying to make others miserable. As you said...young old, gay straight, pink, white, green, polka dotted...everybody is just trying to get through life the best way they can.

I'm so glad you shared this. And I'm also glad you were there for that father; I don't think that's an accident!

Grandmother Mary said...

And everyone is fighting their own battle. Thank you for this post. I hope he gets hugs as well as help.

Debbie said...

Oh my goodness and God Bless your wonderful soul! I agree, we are all fighting battles of some sort or another and need to be aware of people hurting around us. Keep our ears and our hearts wide open.

Thank God for a good ending for this boy!!

Unknown said...

You know where I have been, the walk that I have walked...you have walked many of the steps with me. I thank you for becoming a part of the solution.

I hope to be half the woman you are.

Sending prayers and hugs to this family.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

What a powerful post and what a wonderful person you are to not only help the family yesterday but to potentially help many others as a result of spreading this word.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

sigh... so glad he was found and recieving help!

Donna S. said...

Oh my goodness. So glad to hear the outcome!!

Kathleen... said...

I'm so glad that you guys found that Kid and he has a chance to *absolutely* learn that things do get better....that these "things" pass....those formative years can be so hard, and the varying degrees of sh*t on this earth just make it harder. Bless his heart....and yours for throwing your assistance in so readily. You're a dear Mama...

Nancy said...

Thank you for this post, Mama! it says it all.

Anonymous said...

Ah, I missed this post earlier this week! So true. It does get better, but sometimes these young people (or older ones for that matter) just can't see the forest for the trees. Glad they found him.

Anonymous said...

Sure hope so..As my dear Mom used to say, "it's gotta get better, it can't get no worse!"

For once be thankful that the train were not running.

Lori said...

Thank you for getting involved...thank you for sharing this message. I am so thankful that this boy was found and can get help now. You are so right we each need to take notice of those around us. We can get so busy in our lives that we may not see the hurting person. It does get better...I've been there so I can attest to that. Congrats on POTW mention at Hilary's. So glad I was led here!

Scott Law said...

By leaving the note it is obvious that he didn't really want to die he wanted help. Thank heaven for that, because it let people know that the problem was serious and now, hopefully, he is getting the help that he desperately needs. Thank heaven the community got involved and found him.

Anonymous said...

What a powerful message -- both your post and the quote at the end.

(here via Hilary's blog and POTW)

Cricket said...

Wow. And yikes. And I would see more than a bit of Divine Providence in the fact that the trains were not running that day.

Congratulations on your potw.

Out on the prairie said...

What a sad tale, I don't think people really realize the effect of taking their life. Had this happened think about finding what would be left.Someone was watching over him, but that doesn't mean he can be stopped with this tragic thought.

Unknown said...

This gave me chills. I love what you wrote. It applies to all of us really. Black, white, gay, straight: everyone. It gets better for all of us. We just have to grow a little and mature.

I will pray for this boy and his family. I am SO thankful he is ok and reunited with his family. I pray things get much better for him soon.

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

I am a huge fan of It Gets Better so I love seeing it referenced different places. And I'm so glad that boy is okay, and that he has parents and friends and random strangers who care and are willing to help.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Thank God that a life was spared. At my age, though, an older friend keeps telling me, "It gets worse."