He heard these words, "Mackenzie and Meleah were in a wreck this morning. And Mackenzie didn't make it."
We both bolted out of bed and were out the door by 6:15. My school was so gracious. I sent two text messages and everything at school was taken care of for me.
We walked in the ER and were greeted by their dad. With tears in his eyes, "Meleah is okay, but Mackenzie didn't make it," we were led back to her room. Their mom ran into our arms sobbing words we couldn't understand.
Meleah was sitting on the bed, smiling, telling everyone, "It's going to be okay. Mackenzie is in Heaven. I really hope someone comes to know God through all of this." There were moments of break down throughout the day, but her message never changed. Confident in Mackenzie's salvation, she had peace that truly surpasses all understanding.
Time seemed to stand still yet the day still passed. We greeted family and friends, we cried, we were outraged at the news coverage and how insensitive they were, we communicated with lots of people, Stephen went to the schools to console students, plans were made to honor Mackenzie at the football game, and so the day went.
We left the hospital around 2pm to get things ready for the game that evening. We got about an hour at home before leaving for the game where we both just sat on the couch. How do you begin to process such tragedy? You never expect something like that to be easy, but I underestimated just how hard it was going to be as we made our way to the hospital that morning.
We stood in the rain Friday night at the football game surrounded by friends and family as Mackenzie's life was honored with prayer and the releasing of balloons. We grabbed some dinner around 10pm and made our way home. We both laid down so exhausted, but sleep didn't come so easily that night...
We were called back to the hospital Saturday morning to meet with the family and their friends before they left to go home.
While I could type pages about the details of that weekend, the meals we shared with the family, the sweet service we had for students Sunday evening, the standing room only literally spilling out onto the sidewalk celebration of life service Monday filled with worship, the fog as we are still navigating back to "normal" and process all of this, what stands out the most to me through this whole things is this family's genuine faith, hope, and peace.
In this Bible belt ministry life, there are certain things you expect Christians to say in a tragedy like this.
"Lord, your will be done."
"Lord, be glorified."
"We won't get through this without the Lord."
All of those things were expected to be said, especially because it was our pastor's family, and they were,
BUT
they weren't just said, they were meant with an honesty and genuineness I don't know that I've ever seen and that I didn't know my skeptical, hardened, sin filled heart, needed to hear.
Friday morning at 6:15, the first thing Meleah said was she hoped some good came out of this and that someone comes to know the Lord. She said, "I've been left here for a reason. Mackenzie fulfilled what God wanted her to do and she's in Heaven. I've just got to figure out what he wants me to do. And I really hope someone comes to know God through this."
Saturday morning when Stephen and I got a few minutes of alone time with her, she said the same thing.
Sunday, she got up and spoke at the service we had for students across Burke County to come and grieve together, just two days after losing not only her twin sister, but her best friend. She didn't cry over Mackenzie dying (although there is no doubt that will come), she didn't wish the day away, she boldly encouraged her friends to be sure they know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior because He is the only way. She knows her sister is in Heaven and she wants everyone else to have the same confidence because we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. I have not ever heard a teenager proclaim the gospel with such boldness. She said, "If it takes my sister dying for one of you (speaking to a sanctuary full of middle and high school students) to come to know Jesus, then it's worth it." Wow. Talk about powerful! The Lord is going to use her testimony through this in a mighty, mighty way that we're just beginning to see.
This is the song her family chose to have sung at the Celebration of Life Service Monday. I've never experienced a funeral so full of genuine worship. As her parents, and everyone else, wept over this great loss, we also worshipped with all that we had. And it was just so encouraging to my faith as I watched them and worshipped with them.
To the world, their peace and hope makes no sense, but to those who trust in Jesus, it was truth and so encouraging. We'll miss this sweet girl for the rest of the time we're here on earth, but we have confidence that we'll see her again and that she is worshipping the King of Kings and experiencing more majesty than our human minds can begin to comprehend.
One of Mackenzie and Meleah's famous sayings when you ask them if they want something is, "I'm good." We know that even at 17 years old with so much life ahead of her, if we asked her to come back now, she'd smile and politely say, "I'm good" and stay right where she is.
Just like Meleah and her family have prayed, people have come to know the Lord through this. Sunday evening multiple people shared the gospel and encouraged everyone to make sure they have the same confidence Mackenzie did and multiple students responded. Mike shared the gospel again at the service Monday afternoon and although it took him several minutes to navigate through the crowd, a little boy came crying to the altar to say he just got saved. The stories have poured in of how this girl had a positive impact on people both young and old and how people have committed their life to Jesus as a result of this earthly tragedy. It sucks that it takes something like this to get people's attention, but God is being glorified through this in a mighty way in our community and we pray it doesn't stop.
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