You’ve probably heard the sad story surrounding the death of Steven Curtis Chapman’s 5-year-old daughter.  Playing in the yard, she was accidentally run over by her older brother as he she ran to greet him when he pulled into the family driveway.

It’s been a couple of months since the tragedy and the family is starting to talk about the whole deal - what happened, their pain, their faith, their questions.  As an aside, I could write a freaking book about how incredible this family seems to be.  They are very shaken but their love for one another and for Jesus almost outshines their pain as they speak.

In their recounting of what happened something stuck with me and has been ringing in my ears since I heard it.  Having a 3-year-old of my own this story has really torn me up.

Apparently, as dad was racing out of the driveway to take his near lifeless little girl to the hospital he had the presence of mind to stop, roll down the window, and yell as loud as he could muster to his 17 year old son who was crumpled in the front lawn, fearing that he’d killed his sister.  With tears streaming down his eyes and a rattle in his voice Steven yelled, “Will Franklin, your father loves you very much!”

Commenting on it Steven said that all he could think was, “I will not lose two children today.”

For me, there is no better metaphor - picture - whatever, of the gospel than that moment.  As a child lays broken with guilt and overcome by the magnitude of his mistake, his dad sees him, calls out to him, and says, “Your father still loves you.”  Isn’t that what God has done for us?  Despite our mistakes, despite our outright disobedience He tells us that He loves us, that He forgives us, and that He’s determined not to lose us.  To prove it, to accomplish it, He gives us Jesus.

Yeah, I know a little on the Hallmark side but I had to share it.   Man, fatherhood has made me so emotional…..