Bible Discussion Thread

I was severely traumatized as a 3 year old by the witnessing of the death of my only sibling, my ten year old brother, as my mother attempted to frantically revive him as he lay collapsed on the kitchen floor.

Before that, my life was filled with happiness, knowing nothing about death. As you can imagine, a child that age is incapable of grasping and understanding any of this. He or she only feels the devastating emotions that follow. In an instant, my little life was turned upside down from a seemingly heavenly state into a hellish nightmare. My father withdrew himself from me and mom by immersing his self in his work. Mom experienced 2 separate nervous breakdowns, receiving electrical shock treatments at a mental institution. Those times seemed to last forever, when I was in dire need of her love and comfort. My life was now filled with loneliness, coupled with a down pouring of unimaginable sorrow and grief.

I was left as an only child, to deal with it. It was all about the parents loss and despair; mine being ignored. Since then, the psychiatric sector has recently discovered that siblings are typically affected more than the parents, and are very aware if there is no help offered, horrible effects are likely to appear later on. They did. I lost my best friend, and he was not returning. I basically lost my parents also, as I had previously perceived them. There was no healing; "he's just a child, he'll be ok". NOT.

Mom was a Christian. I was baptized at a conservative Baptist church at age 5. In retrospect, I realized that at this age, one probably doesn't fully understand baptism; thus in my twenties I rededicated my life to God and was baptized once more. Along with my wife and children, I became heavily involved in church for many years, i.e. Sunday School, prayer meetings, Bible study groups, teaching, much music ministry, etc., until about fifteen years ago. No regrets nor "falling outs", as the memories I have of my church family is...

to be cont.

One-Eighty, reply to part 1.

I believe many have believed "children are ok" because on outward observation the youngest children outwardly appear to not to have the severe breakdowns adults have. Even when children outwardly "act out" it may be disregarded because it doesn't seem to affect as much; easily contained. With adults much more can be effected & usually is. That may be why, when trying to address extreme loss, mental stability, counseling they focus on the parents. They may even assume the counseling & well-being will be shared with the child.

I'm sorry that happened to your family.