Sad News

My heart is saddened today, as a family I have so greatly admired is struck with tragedy. Steven Curtiss Chapman, a Christian music legend, lost his 5-year old daughter last night when his teenage son backed out of the driveway without seeing her.

More than being touched by his music, his family is what inspires me. They have three teenage children as well as three adopted little girls from China. Each member of the family manages their own online blog, which I periodically keep up with. The personal relationships with Jesus inspire me in addition to the close family bond they share. I’ve talked with Daniel countless times about how much I want our family to be like theirs one day.

After the Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, they founded Shaohannah's Hope which helps couples overcome financial hurdles in international adoptions. Steven’s comments from his website:

After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing - our
eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to
experience more of that…We've really wondered whether or not we should just go
to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, “I want
you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story
back to the church in America and around the world.”

It seems that God recently inspired Steven to make the most of his time with his daughters, because just last year he came out with his song Cinderella and his book Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess. The chorus of the song is below:

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Please remember this family in your prayers as they need God’s comfort more than ever right now. It is still my hope to emulate a family as special as this one.

You can find more information on their website.