Several months ago, I posted about the unthinkable tragedy that devastated Steven Curtis Chapman’s family when his daughter was accidentally struck and killed by his son’s SUV in the driveway of their own home. Last night, I watched an amazing hour-long interview that Larry King conducted with their family (excluding the two youngest children). I sat wide-eyed as each member of that family- clearly made stronger through this heartbreak- gave testimony to the goodness of God and spoke of the healing that flows from their faith in Him. I can’t even begin to do the interview justice, so I urge you to pull up each and every segment of it on YouTube (it’s there, I checked) and take it in for yourself.
Along these lines, I heard one of SCC’s most recent songs “Yours” on the radio for the first time last week. As I drove and listened, the lyrics hit me like a load of bricks, and tears welled up in my eyes. Again, I encourage you to watch/listen here. Although he wrote the song prior to Maria’s death, the song has understandably taken on a much more profound meaning for their family in the recent months. As he belts out, “It’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is yours,” I’m sure thoughts of his sweet little Maria flood his mind.
As a matter of fact, since her death, SCC has added a powerful fourth verse to the song that gives me goosebumps every time I hear it:
“I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
in this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you.”
As a new mother, I particularly moved by the response of the Chapmans. When God set the Chapman family out on this journey through the depths of the valley, they have taken it on knowing that Maria was God’s child first. I can only hope that I would have such faith if, God forbid, our roles were reversed. As I clung to Carson a little closer last night, I reminded myself- as hard as it is- that he first belonged to God who loves him even more than I. A remarkable thought, but then again, that’s the kind of God we worship.