Bronson
This is a hard one.
Today did not go as planned.
The day started out as normal. Got the kids out the door and then was getting stuff done before Justin’s helper, Bronson, showed up to help us finish getting some stuff done at our house.
Bronson has worked with Justin since he was 19 years old. He was dating the daughter of a good friend of ours and needed some work. His dad wasn’t around during his growing up years and he was getting into some not-good stuff, but he had a good heart and just needed some direction.
So Justin brought him on.
He became a favorite of my kiddos. It was not uncommon to find him jumping on our trampoline with them or to see him carrying one of them on his back and one wrapped around his leg. He loved Avett’s electric bike and would put tools under his arm and ride around to the back. Edley would lose her mind when she’d see him walk in the door and literally attack him.
Aubyn always shared her opinion on his haircut. It normally went something like, “I liked the last one better.”
His smile was huge.
He was loved in our home.
He was like a little brother to Justin and I felt like a mom to him. I was just joking with him in my driveway yesterday as he was sitting on Avett’s quad with some tools on the back.
This morning at 9:30, I saw a post on our community Facebook page about a motorcycle accident down the road from us.
I thought, oh no. Hope everyone is okay. Glad I don’t have to get out in the traffic.
15 minutes later, my stomach sunk.
Wasn’t Bronson on his way over?
“Justin, have you heard from Bronson today?”
“No, he should be here already. Why?”
So I told him about the post. He called. No answer.
He grabbed Indie and ran out the door.
He couldn’t get close to the accident and the police wouldn’t tell him anything.
He came home. Regrouped. And tried again, never one to be deterred by authorities.
I waited for him to get home, but I knew. In my gut I knew.
I fell to the floor crying, begging God that it not be him, but that if it was, that he be okay and if not okay, that he be in the arms of the lord right now.
I’m in the middle of this beautiful book and in it, people who have had near death experiences share about seeing prayers shoot up to heaven, going before them. I thought, if nothing else, Bronson will see my prayers flying past him and he will know that he is loved.
I texted Bronson and asked him to please call. That we had heard about an accident and were worried. Stay safe out there.
A few minutes later, I sank down and knew he was gone. I hoped I was wrong, but sometimes you just know. So I prayed some more, asking God to please embrace him and keep him close. That it was okay if he was with you. We’d miss him down here, but know that in Heaven is a much better place to be.
Bronson wasn’t a believer, but he was surrounded by them. And whatever the truth is, I believe Jesus met him on that bike and protected him from any pain and then took him to heaven with Him.
He welcomed another child home today, even if Bronson wasn’t so sure about the whole “God-thing”.
I don’t know how that works with God, but in my heart of hearts, I choose to believe He is at peace and is full of joy experiencing what we all long to experience.
Justin came home and confirmed what we feared. He saw the bike, but no Bronson. The firefighters were looking in the woods and had straps trying to get down the ravine.
The rest I will leave for those of us close.
I take comfort in that he probably had no clue what happened and as quickly as he was off the bike, he was in The Father’s arms.
Please pray for Justin and me as we have to tell the kids this afternoon and answer the difficult questions and provide comfort.
Please pray for his beautiful little girl, the pride of his life who he absolutely adored. If he was having a bad day, you just had to ask him about his daughter to see his face light up.
Pray for Justin who saw him not as a guy on his crew, but as a younger brother. Justin was like a father-figure to him and truly took him under his wing. He’s wishing he had done more or could have spoken in to him more, but we all know there is only so much a person can say or do.
Pray for his girlfriend who is young and in shock right now.
Pray for his mom who just lost her grandma two days ago and is already grieving.
Pray for his dad who is back in his life and doing the best he’s ever been doing. They were riding companions, bonding over their bikes.
Pray for his best friend who is at a loss. Pray for the grief that will come in waves over the coming weeks. They were inseparable and seemed to share the same mind. My heart hurts for him as I know he will pick up his phone to text him some inappropriate joke and will then catch himself and stop.
Pray for his ex-girlfriend and her family who took him in like their own. Its complicated, but they always wanted the best for him.
Most importantly, say a prayer for Bronson. Byron-G or Bron-Tron as Justin affectionately called him. May he see our prayers going up to heaven and take delight in the beauty that those prayers represent.
Love you all.
The three amigos on their first job site together: Justin, Taylor, and Bronson.
