God's Grace

As I write this blog, my husband is driving home from Alabama where he officiated the funeral services for Andrea Myers and her 18-month-old daughter, Corrine. He has been gone since Saturday morning and has witnessed overwhelming grief and sorrow over the past four days. Mike stayed with the Myers to attend the funerals for the other ten victims and is now driving back to Wichita with Chuck and Matt…May God’s grace get them safely home…

Early last Saturday, Chuck Myers, Andrea’s father-in-law who attends our church, called and asked Mike if there was any way he could come to Alabama and conduct Andrea and Corrine’s funeral service (which was scheduled for the next day at 3:00 pm). Our hearts have been broken for this family, so the answer was an easy one. Originally, we thought Mike would fly. But due to spring break, there were no empty seats on any planes headed south. So he drove 13 hours Saturday and three more Sunday morning. Mike met with the families, checked into a hotel, and had to quickly handwrite notes for a very challenging funeral. But God’s grace was more than enough…

In the midst of making arrangements to go to Alabama, Mike asked me to speak for our services here at Maranatha. He said, “Kerry, I know this is extremely short notice and this is a difficult weekend to share. But I want this congregation to have their pastors present with them as well. And the only way we can be in both places is for me to go and you to stay here and share in our services.” I’ve never shared at services like we had this past weekend, but God’s grace was more than enough…

Mike has shared many ways God’s grace has been so evident in Alabama. Just last night on the way home, the hotel clerk asked them where they had been. When she learned their story, she wept and gave them their hotel rooms for the evening free of charge…God’s grace seen in a total stranger…

I just got off the phone with my friend, Carolyn (Josh Myer’s mom, Andrea’s mother-in-law, and baby Corrine’s grandma). She wept as she shared the many miracles she has witnessed this past week. Baby Ella made it through the surgery so well and has been in such good spirits. Four-year-old Isaak awakes every morning to tell them of his dreams of Jesus. One night he dreamt of Jesus giving him something to eat and to drink. And this morning he told his daddy and grandma that he saw Jesus with his mommy as he slept last night. How amazing…God’s grace is proving to be more than enough…

Chuck and Josh (Andrea’s father and husband) have asked if they can share in our church service Sunday morning. They are anxious to tell the stories of God’s amazing grace in the midst of the deepest sorrow anyone could face. Please continue to keep this precious family in your prayers. We can pray confidently for God’s grace to be more than enough for every moment this family faces without Andrea and Corrine…