TSMSS - Remembering

I had another song in mind for today, but I was reminded by Mary Beth Chapman's blog post that yesterday was the second anniversary of Maria Sue's tragic death. Later, I had my iPhone on Shuffle, and this song came on that spoke to me so much. This is from Steven Curtis Chapman's latest CD, Beauty Will Rise, which was birthed from the process of grieving Maria's death. Steven calls this recording his personal psalms.

No matter what happens, whatever dark road you are traveling, Jesus will meet you there. What a wonderful comfort and promise.

This video isn't my particular taste - I prefer just reading the words while I listen, so I've placed them below for you.

JESUS WILL MEET YOU THERE
Words & Music by Steven Curtis Chapman

When you think you've hit the bottom
and the bottom gives way
and you fall into a darkness
no words can explain
and you don't know how you make it out alive
Jesus will meet you there.

When the doctor says, "I'm sorry,
we don't know what else to do."
and you're looking at your family
wondering how they'll make it through...
Whatever road this life takes you down,
Jesus will meet you there.

He knows the way to wherever you are
He knows the way to the depths of your heart
He knows the way cuz He's already been
where you're going
Jesus will meet you there.

When the jury says, "Guilty,"
and the prison doors close
When the one you love says nothing,
just packs up and goes
When the sunlight comes and your world's still dark,
Jesus will meet you there.

When you've failed again and all your
second chances have been used
And the heavy weight of guilt and shame
is crushing down on you...
And all you have is one last cry for help
Jesus will meet you there.

He knows the way to wherever you are
He knows the way to the depths of your heart
He knows the way cuz He's already been
where you're going

When you realize the dreams you've had
for your child won't come true
when the phone rings in the middle
of the night with tragic news...
Whatever valley you must walk through,
Jesus will meet you there.

He will meet you there.

Jesus will meet you there...

This next song was written and recorded in 1999 on SCC's CD Speechless, several years before Maria was born and then adopted by the Chapmans. (SCC wrote it for some friends whose daughter had died.) But although he had no idea at the time that his family would live out the words of this song, God certainly did!

. . .we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope
I Thessalonians 4:13

WITH HOPE
Words & Music by Steven Curtis Chapman

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...

So we can cry with hope
And say goodbye with hope

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

Head on over to Amy's for more music for your weekend.