Friday, May 23, 2008

Prayer for Strength and the Fight to Press On

















I know that many stories are already circulating and that hundreds of bloggers have already paid tribute to the Chapman family's loss of little Maria, but I wanted to take a moment to offer their family a prayer of strength and show just how much their five-year-old has touched my life--the life of a seventeen-year-old girl who is trying to live this thing called life.

If you haven't already heard, Maria Chapman died Wednesday evening as the cause of an accident at the Chapman family home. The accident occurred after Emily Chapman announced her recent engagement to her family and just hours before Caleb Chapman's high school graduation party. I cannot even fathom the pain that the Chapman's are going through, but I do know the God that they are turning to. And He is the only One who can bring them through this storm.

God, I come humble into your presence today. I don't have all the answers. I don't understand why pain happens, outside of the fact that it can only bring us closer to you. Please wrap your loving arms around Steven, Mary Beth, Will Franklin, Shaoey,Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily tonight as they attend the viewing of the youngest member of their family. God, I don't even know Team Chapman personally, but you do. And you know exactly what they need right this very second. Please be with them. Don't let go. Please allow them to feel Your love tonight. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

I never personally met little Maria, but after reading the blog dedicated to her life, I have been so touched by her short life. On the blog you can watch a video of Maria and her Daddy doing the dishes and just being goofy. Her love for life was so evident and she actually taught me a pretty valuable lesson today. We don't control the air that we breathe or the days that we live. Anything can happen, but we must live each day to the fullest. I want to love fully and live as if I am dying. Don't hold anything back. Life is not about the air we breathe, but about the moments that take our breath away. Forget petty arguments and silly jealousies. Be you and love it. The world can never have another Maria, but we can learn so much from the example that she left. Thank you Maria. You have truly blessed many people.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't know about this but I will definitely be praying for their family. i can only imagine how hard that is.

~Allie

P.S. I have a blog now

Anonymous said...

Emily I read both your daddys blog and yours,,, you are so much like your dad in the wording of your thoughts.. I bet if he were not able to preach for us on a Sunday you could stand up there and capture us for an hour or so just like he does, I am the person who had not attended church in over 15 years, I have a terminally ill son and daily I try to cope with his illness. Some days I do ok others are really bad. But I now attend FBC and all week look forward to Sunday, My son from Tampa visited me for mothers day and went to church with me, at the end of your Dads service my son simply put his arm my shoulders hugged me so tight and kissed the top of my head, i looked up at him , he is sooo tall and he was sobbing, I feel like since i found your church and especially Team Cummins I have been born all over again.
I attended the Chapman concert and was so moved by him, my prayers thoughts and go out to his family thank you Emily for Team Cummins , you have all brought me back to where i should be.
Linda Siegelin

Anonymous said...

After hearing about this on the news and reading about it online, I sat crying at my computer. I can onky imagine the brothers guilt he has to be feeling right now. I have been praying for them almost all day in these last few days and I want to encourage people to print out the picture of their family and hang it on your mirror. Let it be a constant reminder to pray for them and also that even though God does send tragedy(and he will) He will always be there with us showing the way! Depend on Him.

greta said...

God doesn't "send tragedy" to us. Tragedy happens in this life because this is not heaven and we live in an imperfect world with choices. But, HE does not send tragedy.

Anonymous said...

What an horrific thing to have happen to a family! I don't think anything could be worse!