Memorial Service for Maria Sue Chapman
May 25, 2008
Maria Sue Chapman was laid to rest yesterday. According to the descriptions by those present it was a weekend full of outpourings of love, as well as the power and comfort of God.
I was brought to tears by reading these two accounts of yesterday’s memorial service for little Maria.
Steven Curtis Chapman’s Daughter Laid to Rest- People magazine article
Description of Maria’s service by Jim Houser, one of Steven’s managers
Most touching was reading how the family has rallied around her brother, who was behind the wheel when the accident occurred, in love and forgiveness.
The Chapman’s pastor, Scotty Smith spoke to CBN News about the young man-
“He understandably is just devastated. Their beautiful home has a couple of bends in the road. It just was totally an accident and this young man’s heart is crushed.”
He asked that we all continue to pray for the family, especially this brother.
“I encourage all to just redouble their prayers. because we all can predict how the enemy will try and whisper in his heart,” he said.
-
The Chapman’s tragedy was yet another occurence of a backover accident. Click here to read more about rear safety awareness, as well as my previous post about Maria, and Annabelle’s Angels.
—–
I still struggle with the concept of whether or not everything that happens to us is exactly part of God’s plan. We DO have free will, after all. I believe God has a plan and guides us in life, I just don’t know how much micro-managing goes on… I don’t know that I believe that God chose this little girl to die that day. I DO know that God comforts those who grieve and can make good come out of even the worst of circumstances.
Romans 8:28 says– We know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
ALL things can work together for good. God can make light shine in even the blackest night.
I pray that the light of God’s love, and the love of those around them, will continue to comfort the Chapman family.
Entry Filed under: Deep Stuff, Faith. Tags: Christian music, comfort, Faith, family, forgiveness, God, grief, hope, loss of a child, love, Maria Sue Chapman memorial service, Steven Curtis Chapman.
10 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
1.
Goldie | May 25, 2008 at 8:23 pm
“2,000 mourn Chapman girl, stand by brother”,
A more in-depth account from a local newspaper:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080525/TUNEIN/805250411
more articles about the events leading up to the service and the response from the community:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080523/TUNEIN/805230396
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880522121
2.
widdleshamrock | May 26, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Goldie, I believe that God gives us all 3 score and 10, the Bible says, so any more is a bonus and any less is not his will, but he allows it. Any more thought on the subject makes ma widdle brain hurt, lol.
This is such a sad tragedy and my heart and prayers go out to the family. (I like Steven Curtis Chapman’s music)
3.
Goldie | May 26, 2008 at 7:13 pm
“Any more thought on the subject makes ma widdle brain hurt”
mine too WS. I had started to write about God’s PERFECT will versus PERMISSIVE will but deleted that part because it was just too much. Plus I am not God so I don’t claim to know how God works.
A good book to read in times like these is CS Lewis’s “The Problem With Pain”
4.
Carolyn Hudson | May 27, 2008 at 5:35 am
I am so sorry for your loss. My god be watching over you and your family during this healing process. And we will be praying for your family.
5.
gr8tful | May 27, 2008 at 10:32 am
This is such a sad thing to happen to someone so young! Sometime I try to think of it this way……just maybe she was put here and taken away so fast was to have many souls saved.
I really don’t know, but if I think that way it can in some way or another make some since.
6.
rufous | May 31, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Goldie, thanks for posting this. When I was driving home from being with Mel I had heard on the radio to keep the Chapman family in our prayers. Didn’t know why though.
When I got home I mentioned it to my DH & he told me what had happened.
I appreciate Steven. He’s one of my favorite musicians.
I felt I got to know him a bit when I read his book, Speechless.
I am continually reminded that the best is yet to come…this life just isn’t fair and God never promised it would be. But He did promise He would not leave us or forsake us. I am truly grateful to Him.
By the way, this story reminds me of the new book called The Shack. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
7.
Goldie | June 1, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Carolyn, thank you for visiting and for the kind words. I am sure the Chapman family appreciates all the support they have been given. My family has not actually been directly affected except through empathy and shared grief.
could be gr8ful… one way or another I know God will make SOMETHING good come out of this!
Rufous, “this life just isn’t fair and God never promised it would be. But He did promise He would not leave us or forsake us. ”
AMEN and amen!!!!
8.
barb gabhart | June 10, 2008 at 3:37 am
“I still struggle with the concept of whether or not everything that happens to us is exactly part of God’s plan. We DO have free will, after all. I believe God has a plan and guides us in life, I just don’t know how much micro-managing goes on… I don’t know that I believe that God chose this little girl to die that day. I DO know that God comforts those who grieve and can make good come out of even the worst of circumstances. ”
Goldie. I have spent much time thinking on this subject over many years. 20 yrs. ago I had a daughter that died of SIDS. I had never heard of this illness (or whatever you wish to call it) until it happended to me. I was barely 18 at the time, and I became an utter wreck. But, I will say this, through her life AND her death, she saved me. She is the whole reason my life and who I am today “IS”. I have come to believe that we each have a certain destiny, how we get there is up to us (free will), however, if we veer too far away from our place in the world, we are given ’signs’ or ‘warnings’ which, if we are listening will guide us back to the path. If we choose to ignore these signs/warnings, then something, someone, some event, happens, leading us back to where we are meant to be. So really, the lessons can either be hard, or easy…that’s where we have the free will….not WHAT we learn, but HOW we learn it.
At least, this is my humble opinion
9.
barb gabhart | June 10, 2008 at 3:46 am
Something else i forgot to add….I also believe that God never gives us more than we can handle. It is up to us as to whether we will or not …the victim/survivor roles. As a victim, which i must say i chose for a spell..i was helpless, unable to learn anything, or grow any further. I was swallowed up with pain and could not see the lessons, or what i had been given. As a survivor, i pushed forward, ready to grow through each new experience, good or bad. I always looked/do look for the lesson, so I will not (hopefully) have to repeat it.
Sometimes, the only way we can connect to one another is through our pain. I know that for myself, i have been lucky enough to help others through my own experiences of death. My understanding has allowed me to help others regain themselves and continue on. In so doing, I too have been able to pick up and carry on.
10.
Goldie | June 20, 2008 at 7:44 am
Barb, I am so sorry for your loss. (although my words seem so woefully inadequate) You seemed to have gained such a peace and wisdom through the years. That inspires me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. You have written some words I will really ponder.
You said, “I also believe that God never gives us more than we can handle”. I just wrote about that! You and I seem to be on a similar wavelength. I like it when that happens (right, FW?)
If you want you can read it here-
http://lifeasaplatypus.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/the-train-ticket/
also related-
http://lifeasaplatypus.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/peace-and-calm/
http://lifeasaplatypus.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/my-arms-not-broken-peace-and-calm-part-ii/