I don’t know how I’d deal with this…

But by now most people know about the tragic accident where Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter, Maria, was hit by a vehicle in the driveway of their home yesterday evening. The vehicle was driven by an older brother, and the girl had just turned five years old less than two weeks ago.

I ache for the parents who are missing a child now. I cannot wrap myself around what they must be going through as they miss their little girl. But I ache too for the older brother who is experiencing a heaviness of life that is immeasurable. And then again for Steven and Mary Beth as they are their for their son. It hurts both my head and my heart to try and comprehend the range of emotions and thoughts that are happening inside the family. So pray for them.

And then I try to figure out God some more and the questions I read of “Did God do this?” or “Did God allow this?” or countless others. One day, I hope to understand.

The Chapman’s had six children. The youngest three were adopted girls from China. Here are a couple of videos of Steven and his youngest girls:

Maria Sue Chapman, adopted and youngest daughter to Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed Wednesday night in a tragic accident in the family driveway on Wednesday evening. She was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital but for only reasons God can explain she went home to Him… not to Franklin as we all so desperately wanted.

Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman’s completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. These words are unthinkable to type. And yet we trust in a God who was not surprised by this and because of Jesus I am certain through faith in Him we will see Maria again. – Jim Houser (Manager)

From http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/