Sunday, April 13, 2014

Does Death Really Come in Threes?

I got word about two tragic deaths today.  I have always heard the saying that death comes in threes.  I hope not.  I don't know if I can handle hearing about a third death!

The first death was that of my cousin's husband.  This particular cousin had a fiancee when she was young that died before they could marry.  Then she married a man who turned out to be a horrible person, so she divorced him.  She is a wonderful person herself.  Then she married again, but that person appeared to have some psychiatric troubles, so they divorced.  In recent years she met up with her high school sweetheart and they married.  They were so happy together!  She referred to him as the love of her life.  This past week he has been in the hospital with severe pancreatitis.  I thought he might rally, but I got a message today that he died.  It's just so tragic!  On one hand, I am glad they had a few good years together, but on the other, I felt they both deserved a longer life together.  I guess when it's your time to go, nothing will stop death.  But it's just so tragic that this happened to her.

I got an email notifying me of the second death.  This was also a tragic death because this was a young man.  Some of you may remember "Vid" who often commented on my blog, as well as those of other blogging friends.  He was a young man who went to the Phillipines to do a study abroad.  He was a bright young man who was particularly well educated about politics.  He had a good head on his shoulders.  His life was only just beginning when he died this past November.  Such a tragedy, and my heart goes out to his family.

It's interesting because last night I was thinking about an old mission companion of mine who died 6 years ago.  She was climbing on Mount Olympus and fell down a 1000 foot snow chute.  She was only about 50 years old.  I remembered that there was an online memory book for her, so I went back to it to re-read the comments I had made, and read other comments.  I noted that there were several comments from mission friends.  It surprised me to see that the anniversary of her death is this week.  She was a beautiful woman, inside and out.

People leave such a hole when they die, don't they?

9 comments:

Euripides said...

I don't know if death comes in threes, but with some people, the world is diminished when they pass. Best wishes and prayers.

Grannymar said...

My father was fond of that phrase; Death comes in threes. He was very superstitious. When I was a schoolgirl, there were three deaths in a row on our section of the avenue. The young lad next door, came in and informed his mother that she was next! Poor woman had no sense of humour. Had my brothers said that to mammy, she would have come back with a quick quip or reminded them how much they would miss her.

Inklings said...

I am sad about our cousin's husband, too, and saddest for her grief. I did not know that about Vid, but I remember his comments and it is sad that such a young man died. They do leave holes when they go, don't they?

Anonymous said...

I don't have any experience of it coming in threes but I recently had a wife and husband friends departing within three weeks of each other. Both have left big holes in my life alright.

Rummuser said...

I am sorry that my comment has appeared as from Anonymous. I clicked the wrong button at the wrong time!

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Sorry for your loss. I don't believe in threes. It's all in the Lord's hands! xox

Shackman said...

Actually I heard that bad things in general come in t5hrees. Sorry for your loss D - the hole in your heart that death leaves is in direct proportion to the joy that person offered you in life.

Maria said...

I'm so sorry to hear about those deaths. But as for deaths coming in threes - that's all nonsense. Silly superstition and the like. When people die while still living a good life, it's certainly a tragedy. If a person has completed the course, it's seen as a sort of completion.

My heartfelt condolences on those tragic deaths. So very sad.

Max Coutinho said...

Hi D,

My sympathies for your cousin's loss.
Vid's departure shocked me as he was so young - May the Light be with him. My thoughts and prayers go to his parents.

Cheers