The Hot Topic of Spanking

I feel like I'll get some heat for what I'm about to write. But then again when haven't I?! So I just need to learn to thicken my skin a bit in the internet world I suppose. Today I'm writing about that all too touchy subject.... spanking. Also, the original post was bit long so I've divided it into two different parts. Find part two here - http://christiancrunchyattached.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-hot-topic-of-spanking-part-2.html

Man this subject is overwhelming. I am not even entirely sure where to start but I'll just write as thoughts pop into my mind so please bear with me. Spanking has been in the news a lot lately. Sports stars beating their wives and coming under fire and sports stars beating their kids and being stood up for. Its conflicting and makes no sense to me.

There is a LOT of conflicting info out there about spanking. Even more so for Christians. For the most part, we're taught to spank. Spanking is good, it's discipline, and kids turn out awful without it. "I was spanked as a kid and I turned out fine!" Can I tell you a secret? I was very rarely spanked as kid, I only remember a handful of times.

 I had a few face slaps, was pinned up against a door with my tongue pulled out into someone's hand once, but other than that, not a lot of physical discipline that I can remember (unless I blocked it out). I was however verbally and emotionally abused (I started cutting at 8), a personal Cinderella,  and pretty much locked in the house until I was kicked out over haha, get this, cat litter and Harry Potter DVDs.  And I turned out "fine." Doesn't mean that behavior is okay, nor does it mean my children deserve to be treated that way (no way in hell). Many people are in car accidents and come out fine, doesn't mean we shouldn't use safety in cars or car seats, am I right? People have been sexually abused and turned out "fine" but it's still not okay, so let's refrain from that term.

The big term Christians use is "spare the rod spoil the child." But did you know that term is not from the Bible? Spanking is not Biblically mandated. There is a verse talking about "he who spares the rod hates his son" but you need to read the rest of the verse, the context, AND the original Hebrew or Greek (depending on the book of the Bible) translation. There are many translations of the Bible but what it comes to is the definite meaning of the Hebrew word. Hebrew is a beautiful language with different words and meanings for the same things.

This link here translates beautifully the original Hebrew, and I'll share some of the post below but I encourage you to read the rest of the post to garner an understand of the Hebrew context of the verses. 

"Let’s look at the words translated ‘discipline’ and ‘punish’ and ‘rod’ and others:

The word muwcar is translated ‘discipline’ and means, literally, ‘verbal instruction and teaching.’ In Hebrew culture muwcar was vernacular for ‘let us reason with one another’ implying a mutual discussion for learning purposes. And towkechah is translated ‘reprove’ or ‘rebuke’ but also means ‘reason with, convince, prove, persuade.’ Neither of these words means to physically punish in any way, shape, or form.

The word nakah is translated ‘punish’ in most English translations of the Bible, though its literal translation is ‘beat’ as in “The sun beat down on his head,” implying a constant presence; or ‘hit’ as when beating back an enemy or punishing a slave or criminal; or ‘smite or smitten’ which can mean ‘hit or trigger the conscience’ or ‘be favorably impressed, enticed, or entranced’ as in, “He was smitten with the idea of a new bicycle.”

The word shebet is translated ‘rod’ and means, literally, ‘shepherd’s crook’ and, in Hebrew culture, was a means not only of guiding and protecting sheep, but also a symbol of leadership. The markings on the head of the shebet often identified the head of a family or tribe, letting everyone know who to go to for guidance and protection. The shebet, then, denotes wisdom, leadership, and protection.

The word muwth is translated ‘die’ and has several meanings related to death including ‘to follow a path of destruction.’

The word ‘ivveleth is translated ‘foolishness’ but also means ‘inexperience, naivety, silliness.’

And, finally, the Hebrew word sane is translated ‘hate’ and yet means ‘does not love’ or ‘does not choose or show a preference for.’

When we read the five ‘rod’ verses with the literal translations of the words above, the meanings become more clear.

So Proverbs 13:24 reads:

“He who spares his rod wisdom, leadership, protection hates does not love, does not choose or show a preference for his son, but he who loves him disciplines offers verbal instruction and teaching to him promptly.”

Proverbs 22:15 reads:

“Foolishness Naivety, silliness, inexperience is bound up in the heart of a child young man; the rod of correction wisdom, leadership, protection will drive it far from him.”

Proverbs 29:15 reads:

“The rod Wisdom, leadership, protection and rebuke reasoning with, convincing, proving, persuading give wisdom, but a child young man left to himself brings shame to his mother.”

And, the last two ‘rod’ verses, found in Proverbs 23:12-26 read:

“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Do not withhold discipline verbal instruction and teaching, reasoning together from a child young man; if you punish guide, trigger his conscience, favorably impress, entice/entrance them with the rod wisdom, leadership, protection, they will not die follow a path of destruction.

Punish Guide, trigger his conscience, favorably impress, entice/entrance them with the rod wisdom, leadership, protection and save them from death following a path of destruction. ....The father of a righteouschild young man has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful.”

Such a beautiful image of a father tenderly and diligently sharing his wisdom with his son, isn’t it? Clearly, applying these scriptures to small children is not in line with a literal interpretation. It actually makes more sense to apply them to the disciples, which is exactly what Jesus does with his twelve ‘sons.’

Beyond translations and interpretations, though, and of far greater import, what seems to get lost in the spanking debate is that Jesus brought grace and mercy as his methods and message for a reason. The purpose of the law in the Old Testament was to highlight the need for a Savior because humans simply cannot live perfectly.

Jesus came to fulfill the outward requirements of the law that highlighted man’s sins and replace them with an inner heart change. He demonstrated in many ways that the law (outer governance and control through fear of punishment) was no longer to be a rigid yoke with its heavy burden of cleansing and rituals and sacrifices and punishments, but instead was to be a kingdom of the heart, of mercy not sacrifice, because the sacrifice was Himself.

We accept that Jesus brought a new and better way, a way of the heart, “Not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3b), but don’t seem to want to acknowledge that better way with our children. We accept God’s grace and forgiveness for ourselves, but often don’t share those gifts with, and model them for, our children. But we are our children’s first taste of God. Is it any wonder people have such a hard time understanding grace and mercy and unconditional love when they may not have been taught those things by their earthly parents and don’t exercise them with their own children?

Through Jesus’ sacrifice, he tore open the veil dividing man from God and brought a new kingdom, a kingdom of inner governance through the Holy Spirit whose fruit is “peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Nowhere does Jesus say to follow him except when it comes to our children. He doesn’t say to offer grace and mercy and forgiveness to everyone except our children. The Bible doesn’t tell us to show the fruit of the Spirit to everyone except our children.

If you truly believe that those five verses have been interpreted correctly and that “spare the rod, spoil the child” (Note: There is no verse in the Bible that says ”spare the rod, spoil the child.” That phrase is actually from a satirical poem called Hudibras by Samuel Butler first published in 1662.) refers to an actual physical rod (instead of a symbol of guidance and loving correction…i.e. discipleship) and that the word used for ‘child’ refers to a toddler or small child instead of the actual linguistic translation meaning ‘young man,’ then so be it.

But do you really believe that Jesus’ New Covenant is for everyone except children? That grace, mercy, unconditional love, and forgiveness are for adults only?

The disciples made that mistake, and Jesus said to them,

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16)"  

- littleheartsbooks.com

(Just to clarify since this opinion has be brought to my attention, the above verses with the Hebrew definition defined are not changing scripture or rewriting the word of God. It is simply showing the Hebrew definition of the correct word used in the context of the verse to show the proper meaning of the verse when we have knowledge of the Hebrew used. Not rewriting the verse, showing the definition.)

That says a lot, doesn't it? Here is my personal view. My daughter will be two soon. And I have popped her hands a few times. But when I hit her hands for hitting me it dawned on me how idiotic that was. YOU cannot hit sweet child. But I can hit you and it's okay. I cannot hit your daddy, I cannot hit my friends or any other adults, but it's perfectly fine to hit you. Even though you cannot hit anyone
. Does that make sense? It doesn't to me. It isn't logical. It is a quick fix punishment. Real discipline takes time. It is teaching and guiding and natural consequences. Hitting teaches nothing.

Now comes in discipline vs. punishment. What are disciples? 

dis·ci·ple

diˈsīpəl/

noun

1. a personal follower of Jesus during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles.

   synonyms:

   apostle, follower "the disciples of Jesus"

   • a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.

     "a disciple of Rousseau"

     synonyms:

     follower, adherent, believer, admirer, devotee, acolyte, votary; More

Did Jesus hit his disciples when they did something He didn't like or approve of? Did He hit them to prove a point or punish a behavior? No. He did not. He taught. He guided. He had grace.


Spanking doesn't teach behavior. It teaches fear, aggression, mistrust of parents, and even worse that hitting people is okay if you love them.

I read somewhere that you should never hit or spank out of anger or emotion. But that's the only time I have ever reacted to hit; I'm angry she spilled that or broke this or did that (whether she's a toddler and can actually understand certain situations or not). That, to me, means I shouldn't hit at all. Who calmly and patiently hits?? If you can, kudos. But personally I could not just explain to my child I was going to hurt them and then do it, it would break my heart. The whole "this hurts me more than it hurts you" thing? Just don't then. Disciplining can be hard and time consuming and rough, but if it hurts you to physically hurt your kids maybe it's your heart or spirit saying not to at all.

Then there are all the other complications if you do spank. At what age is it acceptable to start or stop? Where on the body is okay versus where isn't? And then why is it okay to hit a child but not a teenager or adult? It's just plain confusing and way too much to think about.

When I saw the pain, and the fear, and the confusion in my daughter's eyes that confirmed in my heart that I shouldn't be doing that. The mistrust. She doesn't understand that, I cannot explain to her why I did that. She just knows mommy hit her hand.

I saw a mom somewhere share how she's been spanking long before her child was a year old and that broke my heart. That baby doesn't understand consequences, they cannot grasp that yet. I guess I don't understand hitting a child who cannot understand what is going on or why they're being hit? What does a 9 month old do to warrant a spanking?!

"Punishments teach children to do what an adult wants from a selfish desire to avoid getting punished. Even if it "works" it gets in the way of internal discipline because it is focused on an outward behavior. It breeds resentment, deception, and poor self-worth. True discipline encourages kids to do the right things simply because it is right. It models mutual respect, unselfishness, self-control, and empathy. Children are motivated by love for others as well as themselves, and learn to develop healthy relationships and good boundaries. It is worth the time and effort."

-dulcefamily.blogspot.com

I will be continuing the rest of this piece in a second part, which you can read here - http://christiancrunchyattached.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-hot-topic-of-spanking-part-2.html

Please know I am casting no judgement on parents who do or have spanked. I go into that more in part two.

Parents VS. Non-parents

I read an interesting article this morning. It shared the statistics and facts about people with children versus people without. Ideas such as "non-parents get more sleep" and "non-parents have more exciting social lives" were proven to be statistically correct. The title of this article is "Hands down, people without kids have better lives - except for this one major thing."

It made great points that are all too true. Non-parents are generally more healthy, get more sleep, have more financial and career freedom, and better social lives than parents. On the other side, parents worry more and suffer from higher stress levels. One would think this means non-parents are happier than parents. But statistics show that while parents are more stressed and have less freedoms we are, in fact, more often happier in life than those without children.

Being a parent is hard. I won't sugar coat that. I think any young woman who just wants to get pregnant cause she wants a cute baby needs a wake up call. Pregnancy is hard. Birth is hard. Parenting is much harder.

Where do I even begin... The sleep deprivation? The financial stress? Giving up your own desires and wants because the money/time needs to be put to better use? How about the severe lack of social life? There's also that awkward stage where you're a married parent and no one else around you understands the dynamics of married life let alone being a parent. Things I  can't even put into words (probably because I'm so tired) but that parents just universally know.

Why can't you just come out to the bar last minute? Oh. Babysitters need to be found last minute. Or people come over or get out and your toddler is tired and cranky. Your childless friends make remarks and roll their eyes or sigh in exasperation. (Can I say how how many times I've heard comments and wanted to punch a wall?! You know what we need instead of remarks? Encouragement.)

The looks you get in the grocery store when a tantrum comes on from the toddler who can't get her words out and is trying to communicate. (And god forbid, the comments. Thankfully haven't had those yet but I've heard the stories.)

The managing a household, and bills, and chores, while sustaining another human's life and needs constantly. The whining at the end of the day when you are so. Touched. Out. You want a break and can't get one. Wait, maybe I'm just talking about moms here.... *wink*

There's also families like me. One car families where the mom is stuck at home and looses her mind not being able to get out of the house or run errands or go to play dates or make it to birthday parties or church or do anything. But why can't you just come?!

And then there is the constant judgement from people who parent differently or lead different lifestyles. I could go on and on!

But then......

Then there's the smiles. Oh man those chubby cheeked smiles and toothy grins! The little voice that burps and then says "esscuuse bee!" and puts her shoes away so happily when mommy asks. There's the perfect sleeping cherub face that you hold at night. The toys and adventures and giggles and gibberish and independence and milestones. And the excitement! Oh so much excitement all the time. The joy is indescribable. For all that parenthood is a hard road, it is the most enthralling, amazing, and fulfilling path I've been on yet.

Your husband coming home from work while you're making dinner and your daughter's eager screams when she realizes daddy's finally home. Walking into the frozen yogurt shop and selecting fro-yo and toppings and sharing them with a messy faced delighted toddler. Bathtime and teethbrushing and bedtime stories. And man the cuddles! I feel like there aren't enough words to describe the experiences and joy I've felt since becoming a mom.

The days are long, the nights are long, and it's lonely sometimes. Comparably, I could see why it would seem non-parents have better lives. By society's standards they probably do. But what I have is richer in experience, in joy, in learning. You won't learn lessons like the ones marriage and parenthood teach you. And its a constant non-stop education haha. It's A Wonderful Life!

As the writer of the above article so perfectly wrote:

"Despite all of the negatives in their lives—the stress, the unhealthy lifestyle, the meager social life, the financial challenges, the pop culture oblivion, and the longing for younger days—parents still find themselves happier. We can’t prove exactly what drives these numbers. I have good friends who are physically unable to have kids, which no doubt affects their happiness. Some people choose not to have kids because of other hardships in their lives. And, surely, lots of unhappy parents only say they’re happy because they think they’re supposed to.  

But maybe joy indeed doesn’t just have to come from extrinsic things and fabulous social lives—it can come from the adventure of raising a family, from teaching and nurturing others, from sacrifice, and from unconditional love."

Depression, Robin Williams, and Me

Monday, August 11th, we were all stunned by the news. The world lost Robin Williams. Genie, Peter Pan. Just the night before I watched a movie with him in it, thinking about what a phenomenal person he was. I thought about how I wanted to watch Hook soon, always one of my favorites. I got on Facebook the next day to see "Genie you're free" at the top of my newsfeed.

With all the chaos in the world between ISIS, Gaza, the government, and ebola, I saw many devastated people share the shocking news. I saw many outraged people share their anger that people were now sharing a death on social media instead of what had been on the news all week.

But here's the thing. It wasn't just another celebrity death. It was a suicide. The loss of one of the most genuine, caring, comedic people the world has known. Obviously Robin Williams struggled with depression and possibly bipolar disorder for a very long time. Yet he spent his life making others happy. The person who made so many people laugh, who brought so much joy  was fighting his own scary personal battle. He was so wrought with despair that he thought that was his only way out. That's incredibly sad.

The blog posts have been many. The opinions varied between "he was a hero" and "he was selfish." I honestly was shocked by the ignorant comments I saw about depression and suicide.

To be frank, having "been depressed" or having situational depression is not at all the same as suffering from depression, the disease. From clinical depression. Honestly, the people who don't understand because they've not been in that mindset can't be blamed, but it's rather upsetting that some people can't have more empathy.

"You have nothing to be depressed about, cheer up!" "Jesus loves you! It'll be okay." "Just relax and try to feel better." "Just get over it, move on."

Those types of comments are extremely dangerous. Depression is so real and scary guys, I can't even begin to explain. I've suffered from depression for a long time. You can't just stop feeling that way. You can't just "focus on the good things" and feel better.

Robin Williams' death floored me. It stunned me because it hit so close to home. The news has been everywhere, a constant reminder of what I struggle with and how awful it is.

My life is wonderful. I'm so happy, and very blessed. I've got a cozy home, a healthy and joyful family, the bills are paid and our needs are met. I have no logical reason to "feel" depressed. There are good days, and there are bad days. Some times I feel like I can fight it off, and sometimes I feel incredibly weak and scared. Sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind. I'm afraid to talk to people about it, to ask for support or help because I'm afraid people will think I'm crazy. Sometimes I'm afraid that I am.

It doesn't make sense to be depressed when life is good. I cannot explain why I am. The days the darkness creeps in and the mental pain is overwhelming. I'm afraid to reach out because I'm a Christian. Christians aren't supposed to feel this way, didn't you know? We're supposed to pray and feel better.  But I do pray. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes God tells me I need to find help. But how can I do that? My fellow Christians always assume its spiritual warfare. It must be demonic. I must be sinning or doing something wrong.

But what if it's not demonic? What if I'm just sick? That's often what I tell my husband, when the bad days come. I don't feel well up there. I can't even put in to words how I feel. How it can debilitate me, how my mind feels like a prison because I can't get out how I'm feeling, how there isn't a "real" reason why I feel how I do. I'm happy, I truly am. My husband is amazing, our daughter is my pride and joy. It's not circumstantial.

To the Christians saying depression is just spiritual warfare, I say this: I'm a Christian. I believe in God, and I believe in spiritual warfare. But here's the deal. First off, not everyone IS a Christian, and you can't just say that to someone suffering from depression who doesn't share you're beliefs. Secondly, to say that all depression is spiritual warfare and to just to push into Jesus isn't necessarily helpful. That's like saying all sickness should be healed miraculously. See, I definitely believe in miraculous healing. I also believe God can use herbal and homepathics to heal, and God definitely also uses modern medicine. So one general comment cannot cover a multitude of possibilities. Depression can absolutely be tied in with spiritual warfare. But it's also a serious illness. Clinical depression is no joke. Situational depression, or "feeling depressed" is not the same as the chemical imbalance. It can be SO dangerous to tell a Christian, oh it's just spiritual warfare, pray more, worship more. Clinically depressed people need help. Very often medications or supplements.

You REALLY must be careful how you talk to people suffering from depression. If you're Christian you REALLY must be careful how you talk to depressed Christians. I was horrifically depressed as a teenager. I slashed my legs open to release endorphins so I could feel better, to have some manner of control over my life, and because I felt so suffocated that watching myself bleed felt like some of the crazy left too. Those "spiritual warfare" comments did not help me. They made me think, "well God's not healing me, he mustn't be real. He wouldn't make me feel this way." And that was one of the many things that led me to my suicide attempts. I needed help. Real help.

Statements like that create a stigma around depression and mental illness. So Christians are afraid to reach out for help, because they are so often met with that answer. We need to be gracious, compassionate, and supportive. Not everyone believes the same. And depression is very real.

I've hid this for so long. I don't want to seem weak. I've only just recently shared how I've been feeling with my husband, because for a while it seemed to have gone away. But does depression ever really go away? Maybe it hides and there are triggers. There must certainly be triggers, or why else would there be good or bad days?

 I see those pictures shared on Facebook, things like "People don't cry because they're weak, they cry because they've been strong for too long." Are they true? Maybe they are. Maybe we hide how we feel for so long because we're afraid of judgement, and the tears just get it out.

Please don't judge those who are depressed. Suicide isn't selfish. Suicide is, in the eyes of those who commit it, selfless. To them there is no other way to stop the pain. Whether or not there is, their mindset can't see it, can't imagine that they can feel any other way. They don't think how it will affect others, because they feel the world, their family, their friends would be better off without them. They feel like burdens. They're so overwhelmed and their mind so clouded they see it as the only option.

People are saying things along the lines of suicide isn't freeing, they don't understand how it will affect others, it's an easy way out etc. They are DESPERATE. Desperate people do desperate things. If you cannot fathom an understanding of that, I'm glad you've never had to experience such anguish and desperation that would lead you to that. Depression and mental illnesses are extremely complicated, could we expect anything less from something as amazing and complex as our brains?  It doesn't need to be judged or condemned or laughed at or confined to an opinionated box. Depression needs treatment and therapy, help.

For all those who griped about sharing a celebrity's death on Facebook, I hope you garner some perspective. This may be a turning point for those who struggle to reach out without fear of judgement. This is an opportunity to offer support. To help people heal, realize their worth in the world, to know they would be missed, and that they aren't alone in how they feel.

There's Nothing Selfish About Suicide: "Until you've stared down that level of depression, until you've lost your soul to a sea of emptiness and darkness... you don't get to make those judgments. You might not understand it, and you are certainly entitled to your own feelings, but making those judgments and spreading that kind of negativity won't help the next person. In fact, it will only hurt others.

As the world mourns the loss of Robin Williams, people everywhere are left feeling helpless and confused. How could someone who appeared so happy in actuality be so very depressed? The truth is that many, many people face the very same struggle each and every day. Some will commit suicide. Some will attempt. And some will hang on for dear life. Most won't be able to ask for the help that they need to overcome their mental illness.

You can help.

Know the warning signs for suicide. 50-75% of people who attempt suicide will tell someone about their intention. Listen when people talk. Make eye contact. Convey empathy. And for the love of people everywhere, put down that ridiculous not-so-SmartPhone and be human.

Check in on friends struggling with depression. Even if they don't answer the phone or come to the door, make an effort to let them know that you are there. Friendship isn't about saving lost souls; friendship is about listening and being present.

Reach out to survivors of suicide. Practice using the words "suicide" and "depression" so that they roll off the tongue as easily as "unicorns" and "bubble gum." Listen as they tell their stories. Hold their hands. Be kind with their hearts. And hug them every single time.

Encourage help. Learn about the resources in your area so that you can help friends and loved ones in need. Don't be afraid to check in over and over again. Don't be afraid to convey your concern. One human connection can make a big difference in the life of someone struggling with mental illness and/or survivor's guilt.

30,000 people commit suicide in the United States each year. 750,000 people attempt suicide. It's time to raise awareness, increase empathy and kindness, and bring those numbers down.

It's time to talk about suicide and depression."

The Depressed Christian: "In that season, I went back to my roots: reading the Bible, praying, singing songs of praise, trying to keep gratitude lists. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I prayed, no matter how often I cried out, I couldn't force my mind to course-correct. I was acutely aware of how broken my brain was but felt absolutely powerless to fix it.

And yet in the midst of that dark time, my heart absolutely thrilled with joy. Watching the boys sleep next to each other, tucked into each other because that's how you sleep when that's all you know - it made my heart crack wide open with joy. Silly conversations and long hugs from my girls, giggly text messages from my husband ... yes, there was light and joy and love and moments of clarity in the midst of those hard, hard days.

And then like a troll from the old children's stories, Depression would be on the scene to gobble my joy right up.

The beautiful glimpses of joy were precious grace to me, but no matter how tightly I wrapped my fingers around that joy, I couldn't find a way to make that joy fix my broken thoughts."

What Christians Need To Know About Mental Health: "We could tell you what we know.

That — depression is like a room engulfed in flames and you can’t breathe for the sooty smoke smothering you limp — and suicide is deciding there is no way but to  jump straight out of the burning building."

Thoughts On Depression & Being A Christian: "Those who don't struggle with depression, who don't feel the ongoing darkness, or even those who struggle with depression yet still get the occasional bursts of joy or light, they try to understand and make sense of it. Label it as selfish and the easy way out. Call the suicidal "cowards." But that's not the mind of a person in the grips of unrelenting darkness. When depression corners you like that, it makes you believe that suicide is joy. Suicide is relief. And in some instances, it makes you think that suicide is a blessing or a gift to others. It can feel like the brave and noble thing to do. 

Like I said, depression is evil. 

But there's another kind of evil lurking around the halls of the depressed, and it's the belief that those who are stricken with depression (or any mental illness) are suffering because of their lack of faith in Jesus. "If only you'd pray for more joy," people say. "If only you'd ask God to take the pain."  Or, "Is there unresolved sin in your life?" Or how about this one, "If you'd just meditate more on God's Word..." 

Folks, saying someone is depressed or suicidal because they aren't praying enough, are self-absorbed, sinful, or don't have a deep enough faith? It's abusive. And it needs to stop. Now."

Robin Williams, we will miss you. Thank you for all the smiles and laughs, thanks for the good you've done. To your family, we are so sorry for your loss.

If you are suffering from depression please don't be afraid to reach out. If you are having thoughts of suicide, please seek help. The world misses Robin and we will miss you too. I promise.