Maria Sue's memorial is taking place in Nashville, right now.
Please take a few minutes and lift this family in prayer.
Please ask for peace for Will Franklin, and that he is not crippled by this.
Ask that he cling to his parents and not run from them, and that he believe in
God's plan for his life.
Peace.
I do pray for each and every one of them. ... Such a sad tragedy...
ReplyDeleteAndrea, Hi! It's Terri (Mr. Joe's daughter,from Topeka) I found this that someone posted on a scrapbook website that I go to and thought you might like to read it.
ReplyDeletePost from a scrapbooking website that I go too.
I know there were a few threads here in the middle of last week about the accidental death of Maria Chapman, daughter of Steven Curtis and MaryBeth Chapman. I know alot of people are praying for this family in their loss...but I thought it might be good for everyone to know that the funeral for Maria was yesterday and it was a beautiful celebration of life. The Chapman's attend the same church we do and while we aren't close to them (it's a large church) my husband attended (our childcare giver wasn't available, so I stayed home) as a symbol of our respect and love for all our church family. The majority of our church takes these kinds of familial responsibilities very seriously. He came home so moved. He says it was stunningly beautiful and gripping and such a testament to the faith of this family and the families that are closest to them.
There were lots of memories about Maria shared by her family. Some sweet, some funny, some heart-wrenching. Her brother wore her favorite blanket around his shoulders. Shoey (the oldest adopted daughter) had composed a letter to Maria and in it she said something to the effect of "wait for me by the gates of heaven...i'll see you soon but not too soon." As her family stood on the stage sharing their memories, they did so barefoot, in honor of the sacred ground they know her to be running on today in heaven and because she loved to play barefoot.
Goeff Moore (a very close friend) sang the song a song that Steven wrote years ago for another family in our church who lost a young daughter. It's called "With Hope" and it's so very "Steven" and so very touching.
There were tears and laughter and so much love. So many people of course are concerned for the well-being of her brother. From what DH said he saw, and from what I heard at church today from others who were present, her brother is seeing the grace and love of Jesus thru his family (immediate, extended and church) in a very real way. This family will make sure that he is carried by the arms of God to the life he was ment for, believing that all things are ordained by God. All things. He is and will continue to be redeemed by Lord every day.
A very special prayer by a very special man was prayed at the end--a man who knows the cost of loosing a child and who knows how the love of the Savior carries us all. He prayed for the restoration of her brother powerfully.
I wish I could have been there.