Sad Day In Spartanburg County

Since the story broke this morning that 2 year old William Eschenback's body, who had been missing for some 20 hours, had been found in the South Tyger River I've not been able to get much work done. I was watching the live feed from WSPA and listening to Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office radio communications, both over the Internet. Around 11:30am I heard the dispatcher send an ID unit to the scene and, with my 35 years experience with the fire service, I knew that meant bad news was eminent.

I can't help but think of my grandson Tucker who is the same age as William and imagine how I would feel if this had been him. I know how rambunctious he can be and I can imagine how he could wander off in a split second. It's easy for everyone to blame the mother for not watching him closer but it's so easy to get distracted for a minute, especially since she had an infant in the house too. No one knows all of the details and probably never will. The thing that needs to be done is to not blame her but to pray for her for she will be living with the "what ifs" for the rest of her life. The blame she will be putting on herself will be more than anybody else could ever put on her.

The Bible says "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." (Romans 8:28). And, I know we aren't supposed to question God's Word but sometimes things happen to make me wonder how this verse applies. But it's ours not to question but to believe no matter how hard it is.

My request to all of my readers, even though the list of them is small, is to keep this family in your prayers that God will sustain them in this time of grief.