Tommy

by James Whiteaker

Recently, I had a day off from work and decided to go to Cookeville to see my grandmother and dad. They both live on the mountain, as we have always called it. As we sat at the breakfast table talking, my grandmother, Ma, asked me if someone who commits suicide could go to heaven. Alarms went off in my head. Ma had always been a rock in the family and not one to contemplate suicide. I asked her why and she asked about Tommy. Tommy was my first cousin. He was about 2 years older than I. We had grown up on the mountain hauling hay and tobacco, digging potatoes, and cutting rail ties for my grandfather, Tommy�s father, and their two brothers, who all lived on the mountain. We were friends but college came and then I went off to my first job. Through Ma I learned that Tommy had begun drinking and hanging with the wrong crowd. I occasionally saw Tommy and he did look bad. Then Ma told me about Tommy�s dad, Junior. She said Junior was a mean man; he beat Tommy. She related the story of once being at Junior�s house and Tommy getting a beating that had him bleeding out of his eyes and ears. My first thought was why didn�t Pa try to stop it. I was glad to hear that he did that time, but in that day and time parents were left to tend to there own children without interference. Ma talked of the times Tommy would come and sit with her on the pew at church and what a good boy he was. Tears came to her eyes. I had never known of Tommy�s hard childhood. He never talked of it. Now I understood better why Tommy had started drinking. He had demons in his past and never had any help with them. His demons finally took him. Five years ago Tommy committed suicide. Ma was still worried about the little boy she loved at church.
I know that in our church family there are those who are hurting and need help. The elders are here to help. The whole family is here for you. If you know of someone in pain, someone needing help, or just a ear to listen to the pain in their life, tell us. Tell someone. Unless the family knows we cannot be there.
I Cor 1:3-43 �Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4) who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.�

• Helping Suicidal Friends -Aug 09, 1998