#orange4tucker

The loss of a loved one is like no other pain. Grief lingers for the rest of your life, touching you with sorrows in different ways at different times. Your goal is not necessarily to rid your life of the pain, but to live with it and remember the best things about your loved one.

My heart dropped and I instantly got a lump in my throat as I read a text from Stuart yesterday afternoon while at Starbucks. My eyes filled with tears, as they are now, and I kept reading the text over and over in my head. I had watched the news earlier in the morning and heard that a Clemson Student’s body was found in Lake Hartwell and they had indentified the body. I didn’t listen in close to who it was because we really don’t know too many students left at Clemson, I didn’t possibly think it could be one of them.

A few weeks ago, Stuart and I were dog sitting for a family in Greenville, and decided to take the dogs downtown for a walk. Of course I got hungry and Wild Wing Café was the first place I thought of because we could eat outside while the dogs laid under the table with us. Our furry little buddies, Finn and Tucker, greeted everyone as they walked by including our waiter, Tucker. We laughed as he introduced himself since he had the same name as the dog. I am always finding out everyone’s life history, so obviously I started to ask him about his self as he kept coming back to our table. He told us he was from Piedmont and was going to be a sophomore at Clemson. Since I am all about going greek, I asked if he was in a fraternity and he quickly said he was looking forward to pledging SigEp.

Tucker had an unforgettable smile and a personality that made you want to be friends with him.

As we watched the news last night, it weighed heavy on my heart that this tragedy happened. Tucker Hipp was only 19 years old. He was his parent’s only child and he was in a serious relationship. I just was talking to Stuart on Saturday about losing a spouse and not under standing how you could ever get over it. I hope this is something that we will not have to deal with in our lifetime, but feel awful for those who have gone through it. The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways, and I will never understand how he chooses who will come live with him next. 

I feel safe to say that sweet Tucker is holding up his tiger rap and representing Clemson well.  

The righteous cry, and the Lord hears

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearterd

And saves those whoare crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34: 17-18