Life is hard but beautiful still Published 10:49 am Wednesday, October 9, 2024 By Editor By Les Ferguson, Jr. Columnist I am not a fan of October 10th. For most folks, it is just another day almost midway through the month.
Every year, I try to approach the tenth of October in that vein. Just another day? I’m not quite there. And even though I try, I most likely never will be.
For me, October 10th will forever be a day that represents the very worst of humanity. Thirteen years ago, October 10, 2011, was typical. It was Columbus Day, a holiday celebrated by banks and the government.
But for most, it was just another busy Monday. People went to work, ate lunch, went shopping, planned supper, etc. It was average, normal, and customary.
Until it wasn’t. At least for me and my family. October 10, 2011, was the day evil personified busted in through a door of our home carrying a gun and a small hatchet.
When it was over, three people were dead—my first wife, a son, and the perpetrator who had gone home and killed himself. That day began a significant time when I doubted God’s love and concern. I was probably the most angry and hurt person you could ever meet.
I know for sure I was not pleasant to be around. My poor kids not only lost their mother and a brother, but they were also stuck with a dad who didn’t have any idea how to cope. The traumas we endured as a family still resonate in some fashion all these years later.
However, when I look back at those days, I’m incr.
