Monday, January 28, 2008

The Crashes of this Life


This past weekend five young men were in a car accident in Ocala, my new hometown. Tonight I went with several friends to the memorial service for Joshua, Jacob, Dustin, James, and Isaac. I was blown away as I watched a room fill to overflowing with friends and family. My heart broke as I watched friends literally sob. I cried out to God as I hugged a girl I didn't even know and told her that I was praying for her. In one short weekend these five friends were gone--what a tragedy.




My heart cries to Jesus as I wonder if these boys knew him personally. Did anyone ever tell them about Him? Their faces remind me of the people that walk the halls at my school. Have they ever heard of the hope that they can find in Jesus Christ? My heart broke as the faces of people that I saw every day at my old school came to mind and I wondered, "why didn't I say more about Jesus?!" I know that I do not want to be in Heaven someday and then see a sobbing friend who points at me and ask why I didn't tell them about the hope that have. Life is so short and tonight I really realized for the first time how important every moment really is. I mean, I do not know if I will wake up in the morning. If I were to die I want to be remembered as a woman who spread the news about Jesus everywhere she was and lived out the hope that she has. As I watched grown men break down as sob tonight, my heart sobbed for all of the people that I just pass by everyday and don't say anything to.




The faces of those five boys look just like the kids I am with everyday. I want to tell everyone about Jesus' love because then when the crashes of this world do happen, I can know that their is hope.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

My dad is the leader of our youth group and used that car crash as an example last night. He talked about how we will always be faced with choices in life and how surrounding ourselves with friends who will help us make good choices is wise. It is very sad that those boys had to die so young, I can't imagine how their friends are feeling.

Anonymous said...

Emily: you are a testimony to everyone. I have just cried along with you and all at that service, it was a sad thing, wrong choice. Please pray, my grandaughter 15 lives in a home where they don't discuss God, I have tried with her in her early years and I think she trusts him, but we need to discuss again. Her dad will not allow her to come to chris tomlin concert tomorrow because it is christian. I hope you continue to inspire others.