the Chapman family from left to right:

Will Franklin, Maria Sue, Steven Curtis, Shaohannah, MaryBeth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily

Please keep Steven Curtis Chapman, his wife Mary Beth and their entire family in your prayers. Their five year old daughter, Maria Sue, was accidentally killed in an accident at their home.

As a mother of a precious little five year old daughter and a mother who has gone through losing a child, my heart aches for the Chapman family. How do you go on? How do you smile and say it is going to be okay when it hurts so bad? How you ask, by God's mighty grace. God is over every circumstance that comes our way - good and bad. He holds us close and loves us - and in moments like this, He is closer than ever. Think of how our earthly father holds us close when we fall - God's hold on us during these moments is even more comforting.

Steven & Mary Beth will have tears, they will have moments that they don't know how to handle but thankfully they serve the same God that I do and I know that in those moments, He will be holding them and speaking to them in only the way our Father can.

Hug your children tight, love them much and most importantly, thank God daily for the moments you have with them. They are precious gifts from God! And please do pray for the Chapman family, they will need all the prayers they can get during this time and the days, weeks, months & years to come.