The Night That Took My Wife: A Journey of Healing and Hope

The Night That Took My Wife

If only I could have foreseen the day when the Lord would call my beloved wife, Kyra, home to be with him. I would have pleaded with him to take me instead. Our three girls were so young, and the thought of raising them alone was unfathomable. It seemed incomprehensible.

But as we know, God's ways are not our ways. On that fateful day, August 14, 2015, I woke up to a new reality, a reality that did not include Kyra by my side. My heart was shattered.

The Day We Lost Kyra

The previous day, Kyra and I were getting ready to return to Rome, Italy, where we had been living and serving the evangelical church for six years. We had been visiting our family in Georgia and were eagerly anticipating our return to our friends and the work God had called us to do.

Little did we know, that evening would be our last together as a family. We went out to dinner, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Little did we know that tragedy was just around the corner.

After dinner, as we were driving back home, a drunk driver swerved into our lane and collided with our car. In an instant, our lives were forever changed. Kyra's life was taken from us, leaving a void that could never be filled.

The Unfathomable Loss

As I stood at Kyra's funeral, holding our three young daughters close, I couldn't help but question God's plan. How could he allow such a tragedy to occur? Why did he take away the love of my life, the mother of our children?

But in the midst of my pain and confusion, I found solace in the word of God. Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Though I felt shattered, I knew that God was with me, even in my darkest moments.

Through prayer and reflection, I began to understand that God's ways are higher than ours. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

While I may never fully comprehend why God allowed Kyra's life to be cut short, I have learned to trust in his sovereignty and his perfect plan. Romans 8:28 assures us, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

The Journey of Healing

The days, weeks, and months that followed Kyra's death were excruciatingly painful. Grief consumed me, and I struggled to find the strength to carry on. But God was faithful. He surrounded me with a community of believers who supported me, prayed for me, and walked alongside me in my journey of healing.

During this time, I clung to the promises of God, finding comfort in his word. Psalm 147:3 says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." God was not distant in my pain; he was actively working to bring healing and restoration to my broken heart.

As the months turned into years, I began to see glimpses of beauty rising from the ashes of my loss. God was using my pain to shape me, to refine my character, and to draw me closer to him. James 1:2-4 became my anthem, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

A New Chapter

Today, as I look back on the journey of the past years, I can see God's faithfulness and goodness in every step. He has given me the strength to raise my daughters as a single father, and he has provided for our every need.

While the pain of losing Kyra will always be a part of my story, I have found hope and joy in the midst of the sorrow. Psalm 30:5 reminds us, "For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."

God has brought beauty from the ashes of my loss. He has given me a new purpose, a new perspective, and a renewed passion for serving others who are walking through grief. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

As I continue to journey through life without Kyra by my side, I am reminded of the ultimate hope that we have in Jesus Christ. He is the one who conquered death and offers eternal life to all who believe in him. John 11:25-26 says, "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

Yes, in the face of unimaginable loss, I choose to believe. I choose to believe that God is good, that he is near to the brokenhearted, and that he has a purpose for my pain. And in that belief, I find strength, comfort, and hope.