Cooper, the four-year-old son of my friend was killed this past week when an unlicensed 15-year-old driving a mini-van accidently hit him while he was crossing the street on his bike. His mother was just a few steps behind him and witnessed the whole thing. I wasn’t there. I don’t have an eyewitness account of what happened, but I do know that the lives of two families were forever changed because of that event. One family lost their son and will never be the same. The other family faces a lifelong cloud of guilt, the possibility of jail, and will also never be the same.
These families were neighbors-not next door neighbors-but people that live just down the street, that are members of the same faith, and know many of the same people. As I’ve heard how our community is responding, I’ve been saddened to see that many people are taking sides. Someone is circulating petitions to press full-charges (a matter that is in question due to the private roads where the accident took place). Someone sprayed graffiti on their garage the night after the accident. Now, in addition to the devastation they too are feeling at causing the death of an innocent child, the family of the driver has the added stress of feeling forced from the community. They are planning to sell their home and move.
Maybe the neighbors who are doing this are trying to show solidarity and loyalty to the family obviously grieving the loss of their young son? Maybe they see it as a way to prevent further underage drivers from causing tragedies? I’m hoping their intentions are positive.
Accidents do happen; they often kill people; and frequently, it IS something that could have been avoided. I believe when the Day of Judgement comes, and we’re standing before our Maker, that the family of that driver will be judged by their intent. They didn’t wake up that morning thinking, “I’ll run over and kill someone today and ruin the life of his family.” At Judgement, I think the people whose actions are malicious toward the family of the driver, have more to worry about than the driver himself because of their intent. I believe God looks on our hearts and judges us, in part, by our intentions.
A great prophet once said, “See that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually”. Another said, “With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” I think at Judgement, we’d all like more Mercy than Justice–we need to remember to grant our brothers and sisters on earth that same privilege. Life is hard enough without us making it harder for each other.
God grant Cooper and his family peace, and also peace to the driver, his family, and our community.
