December 2008 Lower Family Newsletter

[Chad T. Lower]

Earlier this week, I was listening to a radio talk show and they were mentioning how life is short.  They continued on to say that we are reminded as we get older, but also whenever we attend a funeral.  Especially if the person who died in about our age.

 

But what about those times where someone dies who is younger than us?  Or when someone is just young?  Like only 20-years-old.

 

Lauren Hamby just graduated high school last year and was starting to take classes to become an RN (registered nurse).  This past Monday, her life was taken in an automobile accident.

 

Without going into a lot of detail, Lauren was like a cousin to me.  When she came to family gatherings like holidays or camping trips, she would play with my younger cousins who were the same age as her.  Unfortunately, she won't be attending anyone's Christmas gathering in a few days.  She won't experience graduating from college.  Or studying like mad for her nursing board exams.  Or getting her first job in her field.  Or hating her first job in her field.

 

I don't know many details about the accident other that what has been written online.  Apparently she swerved to avoid hitting one vehicle, but then was hit by another just after 8:30 am.  Who knows if the outcome might have been different if she didn't try to swerve away from the first vehicle.  But playing "What if..." rarely results in any successful conclusions.

 

At a time like this, it would be easy to say, "Why God?  Why did this happen?"  So easy to say, that I asked those same questions minutes ago.  Unfortunately, I may not know the answers until I join Lauren and get to ask Him myself.  But what I do know is that God is love.  And although I am saddened by the loss, I am strengthened by the one true Lord.  He has guided me and walked with me through trials before this one.  He will continue to guide me and walk with me through trials after this one.  There is no doubt in my mind that there are people who are affected by her death more than I am; there is also no doubt in my mind that the God who is big enough to create the entire universe is small enough to carry them and their burdens in his gentle, caring hands.  If they will let him.

 

Too often, we have a desire to flee from God in times of tragedy.  That reaction is the exact opposite to what we are supposed to have.  Life is too difficult to try to do it all ourselves.  I am reminded of what God told Isaiah (41:10), "Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

 

But not only do we need to celebrate Lauren's life, we need to celebrate our own.  We are, just as Lauren is, a child of God.  We are created in his image.  Our lives will not be remembered for how much we made or what kind of car we drove or how expensive our watch is.  Our lives will be remembered by what we did and how we interacted with people.  To celebrate our life means to reach out to others.  Be a friend.  There's an old saying that friends multiply our joys, but divide our grief's.  But not only are we to reach out to others, but we should also spoil ourselves a little.  The music group Point of Grace wrote a song about this last year.  You will notice that the first verse is about spoiling ourselves, but the last two verses are about spending time and doing things for others.  I think that puts it into proper perspective.  We can't forget about ourselves, but we need to remember others too and more.  The song is called "How you live."  Let me end this newsletter with a link to YouTube for the video and a copy of the lyrics as we remember the young, short, but meaningful life of Lauren Hamby.

 

Point Of Grace Lyrics - How You Live (Turn Up The Music) Lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7HFk6flUOQ

Wake up to the sunlight
With your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want
But want what you have
And don't spend your life looking back

Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
Coz it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

So go to the ballgames
And go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth
'Cause you can't get away
Just face it and you'll be ok

Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

Oh wherever you are and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin

So give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
E'en when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
Make peace with God and make peace with yourself
'Cause in the end there's nobody else

Chorus
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

How You Live (Turn Up The Music) Lyrics - Point Of Grace Song Words

Single Song Words by Artist / Band : Point Of Grace
Lyrics Title : You Talk
Taken from Album : How You Live (Turn Up The Music)
Single Released Date: 28 August 2007