Holdin' on to the Memory of Robin Williams

I didn't know Robin Williams personally, but I was deeply saddened to hear about his death. The thing about someone as iconic as Robin Williams is that he appeared in so many movies and played so many memorable characters in a career that spanned several decades. There isn't a generation alive today that doesn't have at least one Robin Williams film on their favorites list. Once an actor is gone, it's hard to watch the movies in the same way. I speak for a lot of people when I say he will be missed.

And like a lot of people, I was surprised to learn that he'd struggled with addiction and battled depression. It's easy to think that someone so funny would be one of the happiest people in the world. He must channel all that energy and enthusiasm from somewhere, right? Wrong. It's tough to discern what lies behind a smile or a laugh or bubbly personality. There are millions of people floundering around through life and masking their true feelings with this, that, or the other. Robin Williams was no exception.

Which brings up debate in the Christian world as to the final destination of his soul. I don't know why some Christians play this guessing game: Heaven or hell?  I, for one, make great effort to judge nobody. There are too many unknowns.

But why am I posting about this on my Sweet Homemade Cafe blog?

My heroine in the third book in the Sweet Home, Texas series - HOLDEN - struggles with her faith because her father committed suicide.

"No, Irelynn. Thank you for making this past week the most memorable of my life. I know God had a hand in this. Do you believe in a higher plan?"

"I struggle with all that."

"With your faith, you mean?"

She nodded. "Do you remember I told you my father killed himself?"

"Yes."

"Well, I want to believe. I was raised to believe. Most days I do believe, but in my dark moments, I remember what the Bible says about suicide. I can't think about the possibility of my dad's soul..."

Her voice trailed off. She was unable to finish. Instead, she focused on her breathing and holding back tears. If she had a breakdown in front of him, it would be her own fault for bringing the subject up in the first place. While she needed to talk about her fear with someone, she really, really wished she'd have picked a better time and place. She barely knew Holden. And here they were standing in a place that could crumble at any moment.

Standing in a place that could crumble at any moment...

Indeed, that's literally where she was in her life.

Oh, God.

"I do remember. I also remember you telling me that, at the time of his death, he wasn't in his right mind. God knows that it was the illness, not the man, who made that decision. He won't be held accountable. Don't let your fears control you and keep you from a deep relationship with your Savior. Jesus loves your dad and you. Do you believe that, Irelynn?"

 

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I'm not saying that suicide is okay, but I know that Robin Williams was standing in a place that could crumble at any moment. We don't know the depth of his addiction or depression. He could have very well not been in his right mind at that time. Think about Alzheimer's patients that say and do things that they normally wouldn't. How about the clinically insane? What about those who live in extreme pain or develop degenerative brain disease?

Jesus loved Robin Williams. Beyond that, I cannot and will not make judgments or speculations. I believe God knows that it was the illness, not the man, who made that decision.

Jayna Morrow’s romance novels and a resource for writers have spent time on the Amazon Top 10 lists. Morrow brings to life heartwarming stories that embody realistic plots with an uplifting message, giving readers a sweet and warmly satisfying sense of love and hope.

Morrow is the author of the Sweet Home, Texas series -  Garrett; Gabriel, and Holden, numerous sweet contemporary and inspirational works; a short read with several other Prism Book Group authors, A Blizzard Wedding; a resource for writers, Book Writing for the Rest of Us: The Layering Process, a book of devotionals for writers, 45 Devotionals for Christian Writers, and several children’s books. She has been featured at eReader News Today, Daily Cheap Reads, Working Writers and Bloggers, Books for Book Lovers, The Old Stone Wall, Lilly’s Book Club, Book Goodies, Nearly Brilliant, Goodreads, and Christian eBooks Today. She is an active member of the East Texas Writers Association and is a regular guest speaker, presenting mini-workshops on plotting structure, drafting a novel in 30 days, and the layering process. 

In addition to writing novels, Morrow is an elementary school reading teacher. She and her husband, Chip, are patrons of the arts, especially fine arts and music. They also enjoy the outdoors and frequently go off-roading, canoeing, barge riding on Caddo Lake, and camping.
She is a devoted mother to two precious little girls and spends a majority of her time creating memories with them. Jayna, Chip, and the girls live in East Texas, near the Lousiana border. 

www.jaynamorrow.com