Michelle Malkin » Maria Sue Chapman, R.I.P. (2003-2008)

Maria Sue Chapman, R.I.P. (2003-2008)

By Michelle Malkin • May 22, 2008 11:42 PM

I’ve been thinking about this tragedy all day and ask you to set aside politics again for a moment. Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman’s five-year-old adopted daughter, Maria Sue, died Wednesday when her teen-age brother accidentally ran over her as he backed the family’s car out of their driveway. Chapman’s music and life have been inspired by, and centered on, faith and family. His oldest daughter, Emily, encouraged Chapman and his wife to adopt after having three of their own natural-born children; the couple adopted three beautiful girls from China. They performed missionary work in Chinese orphanages and established a charity named after their first adopted daughter, Shoahannah. At the time the accident occurred, the 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.” Maria Sue had just graduated from church preschool.

Fans across the Internet and around the globe are sending sympathy and support. The Chapman family set up a blog tribute to Maria Sue here to share their memories. If you’re a parent of young ones like me, you won’t be able to watch this wonderful video–of Chapman and the adorable five-year-old daughter he must now bury as they washed dishes together and clowned around together in front of the camera–without breaking down and thinking of a gazillion goofy moments you’ve shared just like this with your kids:

And another:

Chapman’s latest album, “This Moment,” released last fall, is about the need to slow down, prioritize, and appreciate your God-given blessings in the here and now. Here’s Chapman in an interview a few months ago talking about one of the album’s hit singles, “Cinderella:”

“Cinderella” was the first song I wrote on this journey. I went to give my youngest girls a bath one night, and it was right around the time of big meetings with the record label where I have to play them what I had written up to that point. I was really stressed and needed to get back to writing, but also needed to spend time with the girls, so I was frustrated and irritated. I told them to take the bath quickly, but of course they wanted to play and I didn’t have much time. I finally got them into bed and told them to pray … fast: “Just pray for the immediate family and no orphans tonight!” (laughing)

So finally they got to bed, and once I was alone [in my writing room], it’s like God had just two words for me: “Emily Chapman,” my 21-year-old daughter who’s getting ready to graduate college. And my heart turned straight to guilt because I didn’t want to rush through these moments any more. I sat down that night and it was the easiest song I’ve ever written. The next morning, I brought it to the record company meeting, even though I didn’t think it was quite done. But after I played it and looked up, everyone was crying and sobbing. I guess it connected! I recorded the song just as I played it that day.

Chapman taped a special acoustic performance of “Cinderella” for adoption blogs and posted it to YouTube recently:

The lyrics:

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I’m sittin’ here wearin’ 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 dancin’
“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 wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

She says he’s a nice guy and I’d be impressed
She wants to know if I’d approve of a dress
She says “Dad, the prom is just one week away,
And I need to practice my dancin’”
“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
Ohh-oh ohh-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
She will be gone.

Well, she came home today
With a ring on her hand
Just glowin’ and tellin’ us all they had planned
She says “Dad, the wedding’s due six months away
And I need to practice my dancin’
“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
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t wanna miss even one song,
(even one song)
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

Heart-achingly prophetic in a way he never could have imagined.

I have no personal connections to the Chapman family, but their plight–and Chapman’s message of living in the moment–resonate strongly with me. Last fall, when I was sucked into a whirlwind of non-stop work and travel that kept me away from my kids for long stretches, I got my own wake-up call and near tragedy. After rushing home one evening from one of endless TV appearances in D.C. to try and see my kids before they went to sleep, I pulled up into my driveway on a hilltop, dashed out of the car, and ran up to the house. My now-four-year-old son, who had been waiting and watching for me in the living room window, started jumping up and down, pointing outside. I thought he was just happy to see me. He was trying to tell me that the car was rolling down the steep hill. In my perpetually harried state, I had forgotten to put on the parking brake. By the time I reached the driveway again, the Subaru wagon had slid to the bottom and crashed into a tree–the only thing separating it from our neighbors’ driveway and front lawn.

Thank God–and I mean it, thank God–no one was hurt. The crash took out a huge chunk of the Subaru’s tail. I didn’t get it fixed; it’s a permanent reminder of What Might Have Been. It was also the moment I definitively re-ordered my life. As I mentioned to you in February in another reflection on politics, perspective, and priorities: “I’ve learned over the years to work to live, not to live to work. It took time to learn that lesson. And it required making some tough (and not so tough) personal and professional choices. Best decisions I’ve ever made.”

You can see why Chapman’s single, “Miracle of the Moment,” hits home:

The lyrics:

It’s time for letting go
All of our “if onlys”
‘Cause we don’t have a time machine

And even if we did
Would we really want to use it
Would we really want to go change everything

‘Cause we are who and where and what we are for now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

There’s only One who knows
What’s really out there waiting
And all the moments yet to be
And all we need to know
Is He’s out there waiting
To Him the future’s history

And He has given us a treasure called right now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

And if it brings you tears
Then taste them as they fall
Let them soften your heart

And if it brings you laughter
Then throw your head back
And let it go
Let it go, yeah
You gotta let it go

And listen to your heartbeat

And breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

And breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

Please pray for the Chapman family, if you pray. Better yet, take Chapman’s message and music to heart. On Friday morning, I’ll be savoring every moment of my four-year-old son’s preschool “graduation.” He’s performing a little violin solo and I’ll be the proudest, happiest mom in the room. This weekend, it’s more horse-riding for my seven-year-old daughter, another birthday party, a visit with friends from out of town, movie nights and a Wii Fit marathon with the family, and a pause to give thanks on Memorial Day to all those who have served and sacrificed for our bountiful freedoms.

So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

***

You can donate to Maria’s Memorial Fund here.

Posted in: Worthy Causes

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#101

On May 23rd, 2008 at 3:47 pm, rightwingmom said:

I’m praying for the Chapman family. May the Lord give them His peace and strength during this tragic time. Comfort and keep them, as only our Father can!

MM,
This tragedy and your article reinforces my commitment to my sons. I have never regretted resigning from the workforce to stay-at-home and home school my children. Every moment with them is a gift from God! (Even the frustrating ones. :))
#102

On May 23rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm, JT said:

What a happy kid Maria Sue was. The product of a great family. I hope they find peace.
#103

On May 23rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

Sadly, SCC may never be able to sign this awesome song again. I have been listening to it all day. Great memories from when my baby girl and I used to dance together. She is 21 years old now and I wish we could go back to the days when she stood on my feet and we danced together.

This song is up there with Jimmy Buffett’s song “Little Miss Magic”.
#104

On May 23rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

Thoughts and prayers are with them all.
#105

On May 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm, chris3cube said:

Thanks Michelle, very nice.
Prayers for the Chapmans.
#106

On May 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm, kyconservative said:

This story and the earthquake in China has broken the hearts of many in the China adoption community. We, like the Chapmans, have 3 biological children and in December of 2006 we went to Guizhou, China and adopted the most beautiful Chinese princess ever. (I’m a bit biased I admit.) We chose our agency because it was the agency that the Chapmans had used. They have helped bring so many families together that it is just unimaginable that theirs is now not whole. We are praying in our home for the Chapmans and for their dear son. Their sweet Maria is in the arms of our Heavenly Father and she reminds us all to hold our children a little tighter and to read that book “just one more time.”
#107

On May 23rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm, almeehan said:

I can’t get the image of the little sweetheart out of my mind today. She was truly blessed to be in that family even though God only loaned her to them for a short while. My heart aches for them in their loss. SCC also wrote and sang a song something like, God is God and I am not. May God help Steven and all the family realize we don’t have all the answers.
#108

On May 23rd, 2008 at 9:34 pm, IrishEyes said:

I heard about this yesterday, as my daughter and son-in-law (and 21 month-old granddaughter) live in Williamson County. I pray for the family, but especially the son. Heartbreaking.

Can’t get through “Cinderella”, but I’ve heard it before. Maria is with Jesus, and that is a comfort but I know the pain will still be strong. Mom just went to be with Jesus 3 weeks ago and it still hurts. I can only imagine their grief at this time. I pray for comfort for the Chapmans.
#109

On May 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm, juliesa said:

May God grant them the strength to get their son through this.

Michelle, I like your point about slowing down to take care of the important things. I’ve known of people who’ve accidentally killed their children or pets because they were so harried they ran over them or accidentally locked them in the car on a hot day.

I nearly had an accident like yours. My van was full of Christmas gifts I was hiding in the back, and I left it in gear in the carpool line. Fortunately, a man nearby noticed it was starting to move and I jumped back in the front and put it in park. Christmas is a horrible mess, but I’ll never again let it cause me to do something unsafe, or rude.
#110

On May 24th, 2008 at 12:02 am, ThackerAgency said:

I just heard about this on the Dave Ramsey show. When I heard it my heart sunk. How awful every way around. We can only keep them all in our prayers. It’s just awful.
#111

On May 24th, 2008 at 7:37 am, American Elephant said:

Oh dear God, how awful! May God bless her soul, and bless the entire Chapman family, and especially the son who accidentally did this. Heart wrenching!
#112

On May 24th, 2008 at 10:55 am, whiteasianrose said:

my God, when i read this yesterday my heart just sank…i grew up listening to SCC. What an awesome man with a heart full of God and love for others. i cannot even imagine what they must be going through right now; especially his son. I will be praying for God’s Grace to comfort them and to help them try to comprehend the incomprehensible.
#113

On May 24th, 2008 at 11:10 am, Mojave Mark said:

I am a piano player at church. We played the “Cinderella” song just last weekend as it was featured in a drama. My heart sank when I heard the news. My own daughter is 1 year old and is half Chinese so she looks a lot like Maria. We have been praying for the Chapman family and especially the young man who accidently ran her over. He must be inconsolable now. All we can do is pray for the family.

Maria and Steven will have a chance to dance again.
#114

On May 24th, 2008 at 11:32 am, Wyatt Earp said:

What a terrible tragedy. My prayers are with the Chapman family.
#115

On May 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm, Amadeo88 said:

Very inspiring family. One wishes one could be just a little like them.
#116

On May 24th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, Donut44 said:

Kudos to you MM for this and for everyone’s posts of love and support. I rejoice in another soul being sent to God but pray for support and comfort for those left behind who see that it happened in a horrific and tragic way. I pray they remain strong and grow closer as a family and fight to be with her again someday.
#117

On May 24th, 2008 at 11:36 pm, Branden-in-escalon said:

I’ll tell you what, Corona…why don’t you go to the Chapman’s house, knock on their door, and explain to them how negligent they were for not having one of the rear cameras. Then maybe you can testify as an expert witness for the police so you can try to get the son convicted of involuntary manslaughter. I mean, after all, this was entirely preventable, right?!?!?

The problem with people like you is that you don’t have the capability to seperate your arrogant, “I told you so” attitude from compassion. The whole purpose of this thread was to express our thoughts and prayers for the Chapman family, not as a d*** infomercial for your little smug rear facing camera crusade.

There are a ton of things that can be prevented in this life, but sometimes they just happen. I suppose I could fine a whole sh**load of mistakes you made with your children that could have been prevented and point them out to you, or maybe tell your friends and family you negligent you were as a parent, but I don’t suppose that would solve anything, now would it? Neither will you preaching on this thread!
#118

On May 25th, 2008 at 5:31 am, CO2 Producer said:

I would like to interject a reminder to refrain from responding in anger toward others on this thread. The Chapman family would not want this discussion to devolve into a self-censoring, name-calling, back-and-forth exercise in hostility.

JT (#102) sums up what I wanted to say. Maria seemed to be very happy in the videos, and so did her family. I’m sure her short time on earth will be always cherished by the Chapmans. She was loved by them, and she loved them in return. They can take solace in that. It’s those moments of love that should be remembered, not the tragedy itself. I know they will be able to find the strength to make it through this hardship.

I want to echo a comment of Michelle’s by mentioning that we should also give reverence, if only for even a moment, to our fallen patriots this weekend. Try not to let the MSM’s inevitable politicization of Memorial Day get to you too much.

Take care, all.