"I think we're gonna make it"

"I think we're gonna make it." I heard Mary Beth say these words today. I looked across the room and smiled. I knew she was sad today. I thought I had seen tear drops on her shirt when we met and hugged. I knew she was aching. And then she said these words. I could see a sparkle in her eye. She really believes it, "I think we're gonna make it."

We specifically spoke about how they think that through your prayers, God is showing up. God is holding this family up. The pain this family continues to walk through is still difficult to wrap my brain around. When I start to think about the circumstance they have been handed in the last month and apply it to my own life... my brain shuts down. Can not compute. Too awful to consider. Unable to process. Have you had the same thoughts?

Mary Beth, Steven, Steven's business manager and a co-worker of mine, an amazing lady named Jeanie, and I sat at The Stable today with boxes of cards and letters (from you) around us. We were eating some Barbaras (if there is better home cookin' food in the world I need proof) : ) We were discussing life, and the Chapmans kids, tragic things that have happened, great news in Jeanie's life she wanted to share with the Chapmans, press invitations, what God might have ahead, and some business. Some normalcy, Barbaras roast beef and sweet tea, with a helping of sadness please, but... yes, I think I'll also have some hope too please.

Many of you have asked... I am trying to walk the privacy line here... Let me say this. The Chapman family is all under counseling care and making progress. Some better progress than others. Though they're not full speed at these things, the ramp up to normal has begun... Caleb and Emily are back at Show Hope. Will was at basketball camp this week, Stevey Joy and Shaoey are doing summertime things. The ramp up to normal has begun... but it will be a long, long ramp. It is still awfully sad, different and hard. For awhile we were breaking it into 15 minute increments, can we help them make it the next 15 minutes? Now I see them having good hours.

I wonder...perhaps Satan has miscalculated and messed with the wrong family?

"I think we're gonna make it" she said.

Pray on friends.

Comments

[Melissa]

We are continuing to pray. God bless you all.

[BeachNanny]

Satan may have tried to mess wth this family, but he has not succeeded! Jim, thanks again for your updates. I ma happy to hear that the kids are getting back to their normal routines.

[Beth]

We continue to "pray without ceasing" and I am so grateful to God that He is indeed carrying them through!

[Nancy Carson]

Pray, I will. My prayer 28 years ago was that the ache in my heart would ease up, and finally it did... my prayer was then that I could wake up and be able to go back to sleep, and finally I did... my prayer then was that I would wake up and that crushing death realization would not hit me in the head, first thing each day, and finally it didn't. Half hour intervals... that's good- my prayers will continue. God is good!

[Penny]

They Will make it :)

I am so glad to see they are seeing this now as well. Prayers are still being lifted up for you guys. You have such a special place in my heart.

[Shannon R.]

Wow...this is so awesome and uplifting to hear. Thank you so much for sharing these moments with all of us. I check this site almost daily for updates, hoping for a new glimpse of how good God is and how big He is showing up in the Chapmans' lives. He is faithful and sovereign, even when we don't understand it all...His ways and thoughts are definitely better and higher than ours! I am continuing to lift up the family and loved ones in prayer...they are living and walking out a tremendous testimony of the grace of God. Thanks to all of you, Chapman family. And also to you, Jim...you have made such a special connection for all of us that care so much.

Love in Christ,
Shannon R. in Lake Charles, LA

[Jenifer]

Yes, they will make it. And the world is still watching. Your words were right, Jim. Cannot compute, too awful to imagine, and yet they are living it. Glad to hear the personal information that I know you tread carefully to give. We all have such great concern for the kids, and I know I am glad to hear that they are starting to return to their activities, though I know it is difficult (even that word just doesn't even have deep enough meaning). Press on, Chapmans! We love you all.

[fan]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Chinamom

[Kate Davis]

How wonderful to see the hope in Mary Beth's words! I continue to pray for the Chapmans every day.

I just wanted to share that today we welcomed our daughter into the world to "We are the Children of God." What an appropriate song to be playing in the background. I listened to This Moment during the entire labor and delivery and I thank Steven for that wonderful gift he gives the world through his music.

[Arloa scott]

We too have a 5 year old daughter from China. If it weren't for a night in September 2002 in Champaign, Illinois that SCC opened our eyes to Chinese adoption and then God opening our hearts...
Gracie Scott would not be in Joliet, Illinois right now.

We have remembered the Chapman Family in prayer ever since we first held our 11 month old daughter in our arms in Jiangxi in December 2003.

Now we hold the family in prayer for another reason.

I still can not think of their last month without tears coming to my eyes.

I sat in the front row and listened to 'Cinderella' for the first time and saw the video with Gracie in my lap at SCC's Chicago concert last fall. (It's been my ringtone since it came out.)

Tears rolled down my face then...I can't imagine him singing that song again without his heart breaking. And everytime my cell phone rings...I hear 'Cinderella', and I think of Maria and their heartache.

So we keep praying here in Joliet, Illinois. And we hold our 5 year old daughter a little tighter and a little longer every night.

Thank you for the updates.

Thank you Chapman family for Gracie Arloa Scott.

Tony & Arloa Scott

[Kimberly Barger]

Praise the Lord! I am so happy to here that things are looking up. And as far as satan goes...I say "Bring It On!" (This song of SCC's helped me through some difficult times I experienced several years ago) You are all continuously in my prayers!

In Him,
Kimberly Barger

[Tera]

Jim,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your posts. It helps my aching heart more that you will ever know.

I have had the privledge of meeting Steven's soul through his songs since I became a Christian 18 years ago. And, I've had the privlege of meeting him in person three times now. It has been a honor to have meet him! I strongly believe that Steven's music, his personality, and his family's transparency have always been something that I have looked at as being able to tangibly see God.

I think that is why this tragedy happening to him and his family has had such an impact on myself and many others. I couldn't believe the anger that I felt towards God for allowing this to happen to such incredible servants of His. And, I questioned so much of myself and my faith in those days and weeks after the accident.

I need you all to know that having this site where we can read your posts as well as the comments of others has been beyond reassuring. It is reassuring to know that I am not the only one with these "questioning and anger moments". It is reassuring to see our chrisitian community coming together to hold a family up in prayer. And, it is very reassuring to read that the Chapman family is holding onto God and hope.

It's still true...the Chapman family and all those that go along with the Chapmans still allow us to see and experience God, in both the good and bad times.

Thank you! I'll continue to pray.

Tera

[Diane]

Thanking God tonight for prayers answered!

[Jenny Godwin]

They (& you) ARE making it!! Praise God for the work he is doing in and through the Chapman family. The family will continue to be covered in prayer and the attacks of Satan will be rebuked in the name of Jesus Christ. I'm amazed at the updates and your heart Jim and thank you again for them!

[Sherry]

Thank you Jim for these words.

God is so good.

I am continuing to pray.

[Mindy]

My heart just aches for them and yes those have been my thoughts also...too awful to to consider and unable to process. I pray daily for the Chapmans and will continue. Everyday on my computer I see Maria's face, I don't want to forget, it makes me remember just how fragile life really is. Tomorrow we are attending our Helping Hand Adoption Reunion picnic with our five year old china princess. No doubt the Chapmans will be on
my mind. So many people care about this family and are lifting them up in prayer continually.Thank you Jim for all you do.

Steve & Mindy Hathaway

[Dena]

Yes, the same thoughts.
When I try to consider the pain they've been handed and how to pray for them, it almost feels like trying to make a difference for the millions of orphans in our world - just way too much for my brain to compute, over load, what could I actually do that would matter?

But, oh yes, it's this very family that has shown us all how to do that very impossible task - one prayer, one child at a time, as God leads - we are to follow.

So, I continue in prayer, very simply now. Jesus, the Chapmans - each one - show up for them in ways both mighty and private. You know what they need, this very hour, Lord.

It is quite overwhelming to consider the pain. It's humbling to realize how weak your prayers feel in a time like this. Words seem cheap. I am left to trust that God is really who He says He is.

[debbie]

As we roll into the summer season it is nice to see the sun/SON shine on the Chapmans. I will continue to think of you all and lift you up in prayer.

[Diana Lopez]

well, of course Satan has messed with the wrong family, the Chapman's are great people. It's good to read this words that Mary Beth said, I think they will make it and so will you,Jim, and all the people that were affected with this tragedy, We all have to keep our faith up, that all this has happened for a reason, only reasons that god knows. Well my prayers go out to everyone, with much love and care. Diana (Mexico)

[Jenny]

Jim,
I have been reading the blogs the last couple weeks, and I just wanted to thank you for keeping us up-to-date on the Chapmans. It's nice to hear anything about them. I'm sure it's hard to think about good coming out of Maria's passing, but the Lord is using the situation already to reach so many ppl, so keep up the good work! I'm going thru something right now, and reading this blog made me realize that I will make it too because God is with me :) God will ALWAYS be with the Chapmans. And we will all continue to pray for them, you and everyone else who knew Maria. Much love to the Chapmans. God bless you!
-Jenny (from NY)

[Jean]

Yes, they can make it....15 minutes at a time....one day at a time. I am praying for those 15 minutes..those one days. May God shower the Chapman's with his peace and comfort. I just can't even imagine what they are going through. But our God is so good. Love to you all!

[Julie]

The Chapmans WILL make it! Not because they have to put on any kind of brave face for anyone, but because somehow God will show up and be more than enough even in the unthinkable. This is such a God-sized situation. It defies human thinking. Still, I know there are so many thousands praying for this wonderful family. God will be glorified, as He knits their hearts with healing and restoration. It won't ever be the same, but praise God, they will make it! He won't ever leave them to figure this out all alone, and I'm so thankful!
Julie

[Kim]

As God's grace pours out on their souls, they will make it...and God will be glorified in the process. His Word tell us this, so it is what we cling to today. I am especially praying for them tonight.

[Mike Lee]

We are all definitely praying for them. As a grown man and father of 2 adopted girls from China and 2 bio boys, even I have not been the same since this happened ... I can not comprehend their pain. I have been praying for the boys ... I just hope they are doing OK. My boys are our bio children and I know them well enough that it hurts to know how they would feel if they were in the boys' shoes. Will ... from a father who loves his boys, I hope and pray you feel your earthly and your heavenly fathers' love for you. I cry for you almost more than for your family. Yours is a wonderful family and even THIS is somehow a thing that God will somehow turn into something good that only YOU, not any of us, can experience. Only you will know a new and unique dimension of the love of both your father God and father Steven. Please know that out here a Dad thinks of you many times a day and prays for you many times each day. You are loved.

[Felicity]

A great book resource is A Sacred Sorrow by Michael Card. I'm sure a million people have mentioned this by now, but I found this book gave me permission to lament (something Card describes as a lost art in modern Christianity), and lamenting is the very path back to praising. I've been there, and this book helped a lot.