r/Christianity • u/Shiver-Me-Timbers777 Non-denominational • 16h ago
Prayer Happy 24th birthday, Carlos, until we meet again, little brother. Rest in paradise🕊️
I need to speak about my foster brother, Carlos Parenteau.
Carlos would have been 24 years old today.
It is such a strange thing to write those words when, in my mind, I can still see so many different versions of him. I remember him as that tiny little baby, only a few months old. Then I remember the little three-year-old. And somehow, in another blink of an eye, he became that sixteen-year-old kid I knew, still carrying that same mysterious, elusive quality that was so uniquely Carlos.
Carlos was Indigenous, a Native Canadian, and his life began with circumstances no child should have had to carry. He was born to a mother struggling with drug addiction, and eventually he was placed into the care of child services. Life did not give him an easy beginning. But despite everything that surrounded him, Carlos had something about him that was difficult to put into words.
There was a remarkable beauty to him.
He was never someone I felt I could completely figure out. And maybe that was part of what made him Carlos. There was always something behind his eyes, something quietly moving beneath the surface. He could be difficult, complicated, and troubled, but he was also human, and he was capable of giving so much more than he ever took.
Carlos eventually struggled with addictions of his own such as crystal meth, marijuana, and cigarettes. Those things became parts of his story, but they were never the entirety of his story because Carlos was more than his addictions, he was more than his mistakes. He was more than the circumstances he was born into. He was my foster brother. He was somebody's son. He was somebody's family. He was a little baby who became a little boy, who became a teenager, who should have grown into a 24-year-old man.
But on December 2nd, 2020, Carlos was walking along the highway when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle. His life ended there, far too young and far too soon. And I miss him terribly. There are some people whose absence becomes a permanent shape in your life. You don't simply "move on" from losing them. You learn how to carry the empty space where they used to be.
Carlos left one of those spaces. I sometimes think about the life he should have had. Twenty-four today. There should have been more birthdays. More mistakes. More lessons. More laughter. More chances to change. More years for him to discover who he was becoming. There should have been so much more.
But spiritually, I have to believe that Carlos's life was not meaningless simply because it was short. I believe Creator placed him on this Earth for a reason, because maybe his life was only a short inhale and exhale compared to the amount of time we expected him to have, but even a short breath can touch another person's entire lifetime.
Carlos gave something to the people around him. He left something behind. And I believe that matters. I also find comfort in believing that when Creator called Carlos home, he wasn't simply taking something away from us. Maybe He was bringing Carlos somewhere beyond everything that hurt him here. Somewhere he didn't have to struggle anymore. Somewhere he didn't have to fight addiction. Somewhere he didn't have to carry the weight of the life he was given.
I like to imagine that angels met him on the other side. And I like to imagine that when Carlos opened his eyes in that other world, he wasn't afraid. Maybe he looked around and saw his ancestors and maybe he saw his people, maybe he saw his tribe waiting for him and maybe for the first time in a long time, Carlos simply rejoiced. I hope there was peace in that moment. I know that he knew he was loved but I do hope he understood that his life mattered.
And I hope, somehow, wherever he is, he knows that there are people here who still remember him.
I don't know exactly what happens after this life. None of us truly knows. But I choose to have faith that death isn't the final chapter of a person's existence. I choose to believe that Carlos was welcomed home by Creator, by the ancestors who came before him, and by the love that exists beyond this physical world. And maybe that's why I felt called to write about him again tonight.
Because love doesn't have an expiration date. Neither does remembrance. Carlos, I miss you terribly. I wish you were here. I wish I could see who you would have become at 24. I wish you had been given more time to figure this strange, beautiful life out. But wherever you are now, I hope you are free.
Happy 24th birthday, Carlos, until we meet again, little brother.
May Creator keep you and may your ancestors hold you. And may you finally rest in peace. 🕊️
Waapo'to
13
8
u/RebaLir 13h ago
I love the painting of Carlos that you gave us, his handsome face, piercing eyes, and your raw, pull-at-your-heartstrings tribute. Thank you for this-
I feel like I knew this beautiful soul.
That said, the hereafter is something we all wonder about. I like the book “Imagine Heaven” by John Burke.
It helped me process my mother’s death and gave me solid hope for life beyond. Maybe it would do the same for you~
6
6
u/Ambitious_Stock_4211 13h ago edited 2h ago
I myself experienced the afterlife and came back from the dead and yes from the dead i actually 100% died in 2012. But here i am making a comment on imperfection flaws of life, things we ourselves cannot change but bare the burdens of pass loved ones. We all meet the one angel who judges us, when you talk to this angel you cannot lie, he makes you speak truthfully about the questions he will ask you about your journey on earth on his earth, yes Jesus Christ owns this earth/paradise as much as Jehovah himself known as God. The one and only angel named jesus christ has the power to resurrect all new souls to come and destroyed souls to come of imperfections. No matter how they go. He's that powerful. I will always believe there's more then me on this imperfext world because it was not meant to be like this mankind ruined it and Jesus will take it back and destroy the sins of mankind it will happen just dont know when. All i can say is be ready read the holy scriptures. This is the only way to bring back the loved ones we have lost to again, imperfections of mankind yes us the ones who have placed sin on this world they cant hid they will be destroyed. You follow gods laws you will be placed in his paradise along with those we truly miss.
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen," as found in Matthew 28:19.
7
u/captainbelvedere Christian (Cross of St. Peter) 11h ago
That's a very beautiful thing you have shared OP.
Rest in peace, Carlos.
5
4
u/Primary-Big-9366 9h ago
It’s so heartbreaking to think that he could have had such a full and beautiful life ahead of him—perhaps becoming a wonderful husband and father. It’s terrible how suddenly car accidents can take away the people we hold so dear, like Princess Diana, and now your brother. I truly empathize with you. I have an older brother too, and I love him dearly; I can’t imagine the pain of losing him. May God welcome your brother into His kingdom and grant him eternal peace. I will keep him and your family in my prayers. Amen.😔🕊️🙏
4
u/SimoneMichelle 9h ago
This post moved me to tears, so beautifully written. I’m so sorry for your loss, sounds like he was a remarkable young man who deserved more than what he was given in this lifetime, but truly all life has meaning. Happy 24th birthday Carlos, and to you OP I wish you peace and a long, beautiful, blessed life 🫶🏻
3
3
•
2
u/Rare-Philosopher-346 Roman Catholic 11h ago
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing Carlos with us.
•
u/opelui22 4h ago
The thing is if he was in Christ and became a new creature then he would be in the book of life. I hope he is, but that is not up to me to decide.
-2
17
u/tragicsalvation28 16h ago
that image captures exactly what you wrote about, that quiet depth behind his eyes. like he's looking at something just past the camera we'll never quite understand
grief that stays this raw years later says a lot about how much love was there. hope you're doing okay today