Sorrow in the Tri-Cities

We lose people everyday.  It would be great if no one under 75 knew a contemporary who died, but unfortunately, they do.

Earlier this month, I wrote about Matthew Blacketter, a nine-year-old, hanging on despite cancerous tumors spreading through his body.

He passed from this world to the next on Monday, and now he doesn’t need to fight anymore.  He leaves behind a grieving family, and community, and about 27 kids who shared his fourth grade classroom for a few school days and a teacher who I’m sure never dreamed she’d have to lead her class through an experience of this kind.  Nine-year-olds shouldn’t have to learn how to mourn.