No more angels. Sunday, June 26, 2010.

“The death of a child is the single most traumatic event in medicine. To lose a child is to lose a piece of yourself.” – Dr. Burton Grebin

Less than a week after we said goodbye to young Miasha, who died of complications due to surgery for spina bifida, heaven has another angel – Kyana Marie, not yet 2. Unlike Miasha, who went to sleep and never woke up, little Kyana was battered to death. Her skin was cut and her tiny bones were broken. She languished in a respirator for a few days before her body and soul finally succumbed.

Kyana’s death follows less than a year after the death of her sister, Tai-Leigh Janiah Rose. The girls’ mother A’myah, not yet 20, lost custody of Kyana after a suicide attempt; sadly she was not allowed to be present when her little girl died.

Even if Kyana didn’t exist, her story still does. According to Childhelp, about five children die every day in the US as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.

Today is Sunday, and I wish I could open the Bible and find the magic verse that would make everything all better for A’myah. Something about God’s love and care for the weakest of the weak. Something about forgiveness and the wonders of heaven, where little Tai-Leigh and Kyana are sure to abide.

But I must pray first, because I feel more inclined to look for a verse warning of God’s wrath and justice as it relates to the one who beat this defenseless little child.

God said we must forgive, but he didn’t give us a time table. He didn’t say, “You have exactly two days in which to forgive the one who has wronged you.” He must recognize anger, because he became angry himself. He certainly recognizes loss and pain. I have to believe he is with A’myah, as she grieves this unspeakable loss, after so many other losses in her life.

And my first impulse was to tell her that now, Kyana is an angel. But is that the right thing to say? Doesn’t God have enough angels already? I’d like to declare a moratorium on death for the time being. God doesn’t need any more angels today.