Last week, a sweet girl took her own life.

Suicide. At age 15.

Guys, my heart aches for the pain this family is feeling. For the pain this sweet girl had to know.

Her obituary reads as follows:

Miss Sadie L. Riggs, 15, of Bedford, took her own life on Monday, June 19th, 2017.

Sadie was born in Bedford on December 4, 2001. She is survived by her father, Eric Riggs and step mother Alicia Smith of Bedford and her biological mother, Beverly (Dodson) Riggs of Hopewell and by her motherly aunt, Sarah Smith, with whom she resided.

Sadie was a member of the Solid Rock Christian Fellowship Church in Bedford. She played softball and loved reading, drawing and music. Sadie was a sweet and loving girl and she will be greatly missed.

In an effort to debunk the rumors about Sadie’s death we would like to share this information. Yes, Sadie took her own life, she hung herself. It is hard to fathom that someone so young could be so troubled. Sadie was seeking help, she was in counseling and taking medication, but it was all too much for such a young soul to live with. If you take a minute and look at Sadie’s family dynamics you will see that a large percent of the people in her life were not not related to her by blood but she was sent to us by God who knew this child needed a family. Sadie had a tough life and until a recent incident at school she handled everything life served her. For a young lady so excited about going to the High School things sure went terribly wrong for her. For the bullies involved, please know you were effective in making her feel worthless. That is all between you and God now, but please know that it is not to late to change your ways. Sadie’s death has taken us to dark places, we will stick together and protect one another as we try to make sense of this tragic loss. To all the bullies out there, I just want you to know that as much as we despise your actions never, ever do we wish for you to feel the paralyzing pain that engulfs our bodies, a pain so severe that it makes the simple act of breathing difficult or the guilt that leaves us wondering what we could have done differently-or that struggle to remember the last words we spoke…Our hearts are beyond broken. Sadie, it was a privilege to have you in our lives and we will always love you. May you find peace in the arms of God and may we all be kind to one another.

They end the piece with these words…

In lieu of flowers, the family of Sadie ask that you be kind to one another.

Here’s the truth. I don’t pretend to understand her pain or the pain her family must now endure. I don’t pretend to know what really happened or what ever happens in the lives of those who are hurting so badly that they feel the only way out is to end their suffering with suicide.

I don’t know.

I do know that it happens everywhere. It happened to a teen in our view just this year. And it can happen where you are, too.

We must be kind to each other. We must talk about this with our kids, in our communities, in our church family, and at home. 

And my gosh, guys – we must we willing to open our arms and love hard. Please show kindness wherever you go. It may just save a life. 

Photo: Geisel Funeral Home