One month ago, April 20, 2008, singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman was inducted into the Music City Walk Of Fame in Nashville, TN. Today, one month later, May 21, 2008 tragedy hits the Chapman family.
The Nashville Tennessean reported:
Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.
Maria, one of the Christian singer’s six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.
The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.”
Many years ago I was in the Chapman home, producing a story for “The 700 Club”. Having been in the presence of many entertainers and stars, I was immediately amazed at the humility and warmth of Steven and Mary Beth. Their love for each other and for their family led to their adoption of three children from China. Maria was the youngest.
Steven is an amazing musician having won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards. But right now, every one of those awards means nothing to him.
I am writing a script for a television program this week on the question “how can a loving God allow suffering in the world?” It was designed as a response to the natural disasters in Myanmar, China and Oklahoma. This tragedy makes writing that show a lot tougher.
Why? At times like this I am reminded of Jesus on the cross crying, “Why”. It’s ok to not understand, and I am sure Steven and Mary Beth and their son who was driving the car have no answers and no understanding.
As you pray for the family, here is a lyric that Steven wrote.
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
I just read an article in the most recent issue of Consumer Reports about the growing concern over blind spots in vehicles. Larger vehicles, such as SUV’s, have larger blind spots. According to the article, 50 children are backed over every week in the U.S. The suggested precautions are to walk to the rear of your vehicle and look before getting in to back up, and if you know there are children in the yard, make sure you can see them before backing up.