[Magdalen] Prayer Request--Hayden and his friends

[Jay Weigel]

A couple of weeks ago, a boy named Hayden, a running back on the football
team of one of the high schools in my former home town in Tennessee, shot
himself. I don't know why and if anyone does, they aren't saying. He died
at the hospital shortly thereafter. My grandson Boogie didn't know him, but
Boogie's friend Miana was friends with him and is having a very hard time
with it. Also of course his friends and teammates and his family are
devastated. I ask your prayers for all of them. This is a Facebook post
that appeared a few days later, written by a younger team member's mom,
which might give you an idea of how things went. I ask your prayers for all
concerned, especially for the person who made the comment that the kids
should not celebrate their friend because it would be "glorifying suicide",
that said person may be enlightened.
 Jay

I have had some time of reflection this afternoon so y’all get ready for a
long, sappy post or keep scrolling. Either way is good. On Monday September
17th my child called me from school so distraught he couldn’t speak.
Knowing the situation I went to the school with the intention of calming
him down and making him stay at school with his friends. When I got there a
group of upperclassmen football players were leaving to go to the hospital.
They saw Shaffer crying and offered to take him with them. This was the
first time God intervened in that day. I followed them and helped them get
to CCU. The hallway was quickly filling with young people praying for
answers and a miracle. Soon after the hospital determined they were a
safety hazard and moved them to a conference room. The hospital staff was
so compassionate with these teenagers. We had been there just a few minutes
when one of the teens asked everyone to circle up and pray for a miracle.
Side note...out school Superintendent was there and joined them. Not long
after that the kids were told their friend had passed. They screamed. They
cried. The stood in silence. Then they started talking about being
together. I placed a call to one church. They couldn’t help. I called First
Methodist. Their youth pastor came out of a meeting and said “ We will do
whatever you need”. Second God intervention of the day. We agreed to open
the church 4-7pm and let the kids gather. Several parents brought pizzas
and drinks. When I arrived, the youth pastor had the lights down low and
somber music playing. He had a beautiful prayer table set up in the middle
with candles. I was like “ No! No! I want a happy environment.” He assured
me the kids needed a place to reflect and process. I fought it to the other
parents present for the first half hour. And then... God took over. The
kids went to the prayer table. They cried. The Younglife leaders stepped in
and prayed with them. The FCA big guy told them it was going to be ok. The
Pastor from The Avenue told them it would be ok. Several area youth pastors
were on hand. So many of those young people told me it was exactly what
they needed. I had questioned God and he showed me what they needed
regardless of my protest. Tuesday morning the kids go to school and find
out, in not these exact words, they can’t celebrate their friend because
that is glorifying suicide. What?!?! Teachers, counselors and
administrators go to hours of training in this subject. I respect that. I
respect them. Many of them are very close friends. It was a little too late
because we had already ordered stickers in Hayden’s memory and they were
donated in the name of prayer to Morristown East. Hmmmm..,wonder who
facilitated that? 🙏🏼 These kids were we so eager to honor their friend.
They just wanted to openly grieve. Friday night we arrived at Gibbs High
School and the whole place was in tribute to Hayden, 🤔 Another parent
bought the team green socks (Hayden’s favorite color). Really? They came up
with 65 pairs of green socks in a day? Yep! They sure did! 🤔The boys were
ecstatic to honor their teammate. On Saturday the team lined up to say
goodbye. God gave Hayden’s dad the strength to stand at the open casket
with each boy until they were ok. They all left there with a sense of peace
and closure. Lastly due to Hayden’s giving loving nature, 4 lives were
saved with his organ donation. Friends if you don’t think God was all in
this situation, I feel sorry for you. The kids are organizing a 5k with the
money going to teen suicide prevention. They want to start a schedule where
each day they do something to acknowledge someone they don’t know. I don’t
know why this happened but I know Hayden’s friends, with guidance from God
are determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.