Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Cousin Emanuel


I have ninety-seven cousins. To a lot of Amish that isn't an impressive number. LV has that many on his father's side of the family alone. Among that number there is a small handful that have left the Amish.

My twenty year old cousin Emanuel left some time ago. He was aware of the heart break he would cause when he left but needed to make a decision for himself and his life. He had hopes and dreams and was pursuing them. There was so much he wanted to do and experience.

Yesterday we received a phone call telling us the news we weren't ready to hear. Emanuel has died and his funeral is today. He had been on Lake Cayuga with his older brother enjoying an evening of swimming and boating. No one really knows how or why, but somehow he drowned even with his brother doing his best to rescue him.

They had an Amish funeral for him and those of us who had left the Amish spent a lot of time calling and talking to each other since we couldn't be at the funeral having had such short notice.

There is so much going through my mind right now but I'm finding it difficult to express it in writing.

33 comments:

  1. Devastating. I understand that there are no words. Just know that I am praying for you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So sorry for your loss! He was so young....such a tragedy.

    Hugs
    Connie

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so sorry for your loss sweetie!
    Gen

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am praying for you and your family. Such a sad tragedy! I have an idea how you and your family are feeling as I had a friend a similar thing happened too. He had just finished college and engaged to be married in a few months. He was out boating, skiing, swimming with friends and drowned. You all have my deepest sympathy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so very sorry. We live here in the Finger Lakes and I did not hear of this. Oh, I really am sorry.

    Susannah

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so very sorry to hear of this tragedy. Your family will be in my prayers.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  7. So very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and his family. Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  8. The souls of all the faithful departed are in the hands of the Lord. Our prayers go out to you. I wish I could just hold you and give you a hug.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is tragic...I'm so sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am so very, very sorry for the loss you and your family are going through right now. Please know you will be in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Praying for you and your family. Somethings are so very difficult to understand.

    ReplyDelete
  12. My prayers and loving thoughts are with you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. How awful. I'm very sad for your family's lose. God Bless.

    ReplyDelete
  14. (((Mary Ann and Family))). i am so sorry for your loss.

    ReplyDelete
  15. So sorry to hear this news. You and your family are in my prayers. Emanuel was so young he was just getting started in life really. Again I am so sorry for your loss.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Mary Ann...I send my heartfelt condolences to your family, and my prayers. How sad to lose your cousin at such an early age.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Mary Ann...I send my heartfelt condolences to your family, and my prayers. How sad to lose your cousin at such an early age.

    ReplyDelete
  18. so sorry maryanne what a waste of a young life

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am so sorry for your loss! There are no words of comfort that can do more than those from the Bible, so I will spend time in prayer: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
    (Romans 8:26 KJV)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

    Hugs,
    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm so sorry your family is experiencing this devastating loss.

    ReplyDelete
  22. How terrible--I'm so sorry for your loss!

    ReplyDelete
  23. How terrible--I'm so sorry for your loss!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm so sorry about the tragic loss of your cousin. You and your family are in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh, my dear friends, my thoughts and prayers are with you now. This situation brings some main questions in our minds that we may not have answers for on this earth. Did his breaking from the Amish have anything to do with God allowing him to be taken? No, I don't believe so, because God allows us all our individual choices; and why would God allow him to be taken so young? Perhaps the journey here on earth would have been too painful for him. And maybe there are those who are left that need to miss and grieve for his absence. Roman 8:26 Wish I could hug you, Mary Ann

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am so sorry. He was so young. Praying that the peace of God will sustain your family.

    ReplyDelete
  27. So sorry....I ask God to be a strength and comfort to you and your family. God is near to the broken hearted...

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm so very sorry for your loss, yet happy for him that he was living his dreams when his time here ended.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am so srry for your loss. It is never easy, but this is so tragic .

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm so sorry Mary Ann. Sorry also that you could not be there for the funeral. Praying that the Lord wraps your entire family in the comfort of His arms. ~Monica

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm so sorry for your loss, Mary Ann. I'm just catching up on your blog as we've been busy this week with both funerals and celebrations. Two very different kinds of graduations.

    It's difficult when you can't be there for the funeral. I'm glad you were able to connect with some of your relatives by phone.

    ReplyDelete
  32. So sorry for your loss...

    Will say a prayer for you and your family tonight.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.