Suicide Leap Moves Students to Action

Near the beginning of the school year, a woman who suffered from depression perched on the railing of the Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle.

Traffic stopped, while rescue teams attempted to persuade her not to jump. Some frustrated drivers close to the scene yelled, "Just jump so we can get to work," or "Just get it over with."

In desperation, she finally did jump. Emergency workers pulled her from the cold water and rushed her to a hospital, where she was treated for major injuries and survived.

Impressed that they could help counteract the painful words she had heard before she jumped, students in grades five-through-eight at Snoqualmie Valley Christian School made get-well cards and wrote her encouraging notes.

In February, they received a hand-addressed envelope with a return address that read, "Rescued from the Bridge."With tears in his eyes, their teacher, Greg Reseck, read these words: "Dear Friends: Thank you for all of your kind letters, thoughts, and prayers. Your letters put such a smile on my face. My recovery continues to go well. So well, that the doctors are even surprised! Not me, though. I've left it all up to God. Can I ask you all for one more favor? Please go home and give your parents a big hug and tell them how much you love them. I'm counting on you. Since I can't be there to give you all a big hug and thank you, I hope you can feel the love and gratitude I am sending in this card. God Bless! Angel"

The students were touched that she had taken time to write and thank them. Adventist education made a difference in the lives of these students, as they shared the message of God's love with a hurting soul. •

Featured in: August 2002

Author

Greg Reseck

Cedarbrook Adventist Christian School principal and teacher