Maria Sue Chapman, adopted and youngest daughter to Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed March 21st, in a tragic accident in the family driveway on Wednesday evening. She was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, but for only reasons God can explain she went home to Him... not to Franklin as we all so  desperately wanted.

“Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. These words are unthinkable to type. And yet we trust in a God who was not surprised by this and because of Jesus I am certain through faith in Him we will see Maria again.” - Jim Houser (Manager)

Steven Curtis Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association. The singer's Web site said that Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The         experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption. The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007.

"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,"      Chapman says on his Web site. "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."'

Chapman has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess."  Chapman also wrote a song for Maria called Cinderella.  Please pray for this family and let this story move your heart to hold your children, evaluate your priorities and make the most of your days.

Psalm 90 

    1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
    2 Before the mountains were born
         Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
         Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
    3 You turn man back into dust
         And say, "Return, O children of men."
    4 For a thousand years in Your sight
         Are like yesterday when it passes by,
         Or as a watch in the night.
    5 You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;
         In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.
    6 In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;
         Toward evening it fades and withers away.
    7 For we have been consumed by Your anger
         And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.
    8 You have placed our iniquities before You,
         Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
    9 For all our days have declined in Your fury;
         We have finished our years like a sigh.
    10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
         Or if due to strength, eighty years,
         Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
         For soon it is gone and we fly away.
    11 Who understands the power of Your anger
         And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
    12 So teach us to number our days,
         That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
    13 Do return, O LORD; how long will it be?
         And be sorry for Your servants.
    14 O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,
         That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
    15 Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us,
         And the years we have seen evil.
    16 Let Your work appear to Your servants
         And Your majesty to their children.
    17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
         And confirm for us the work of our hands;
         Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

Here is a portion of the song he wrote for his daughter called “Cinderella”

She spins and she sways,
To whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world
on my shoulders.

It's been a long day,
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me,
Saying "Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle,
And I've been invited,
And I need to practice my dancing.
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

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 want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight. ’

And she'll be gone...