MEMORIES OF EMILY

“One of these days I’m gonna walk with the saints that have gone before”.  This was the verse that Emily sang from the FFH song “One of These Days” when our band “Two guys and a girl” performed at the Vermontville Syrup Festival and the Sunfield Farmer’s Picnic Talent Shows.  We played the drums and guitar and Emily sang, played tambourine and even did a dance solo while we did an instrumental.  We were about 10-12 years old and having a ball performing together.  Of course, none of us realized at the time that Emily was singing a verse that would be reality before either of us, Daniel and David, were ready for her to “walk with the saints that had gone before” in Heaven.  Our band was probably one of the highlights of our childhood together with Emily.

We met Emily and Sarah when we were all little.  Our moms were in a MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) group together.  Our mom remembers one of the first events we attended together – a passion play at Mt. Hope Church.  Emily asked lots of questions.  “Why did Jesus die” and “What are the soldiers doing” were the kind in intense wonders she had.

We don’t remember the exact day or time period that Emily asked to be forgiven of her sins and became a born again believer, but she was very vocal that she had accepted Christ as her Savior (and we didn’t argue with Em).  She always professed her faith mostly in her kind actions.  We don’t remember a time she was not a Christian.

As we grew we were in plays together with Sarah and Em which often involved dance moves.  Emily would help us learn our steps.  Sarah and Emily were amazing as they shined for the Lord as they danced and sang in programs.  One year Emily played “Joyful, Joyful” on the piano with one hand.  Then someone else played a more difficult version and David ended the show with the “Sister Act” rap of Joyful, Joyful.  It was truly Joyful as was most everything about times with Emily.

When we had Bible School we would go around Sunfield inviting kids to come and Emily was always bold about making sure all the kids in Sunfield were invited.  We sat in the front row at church with Sarah and Emily and sang together as our parents led worship with the praise team on Sunday mornings.  During our parent’s praise team practices on Wednesday nights, we would all play hide and seek in the church basement and yard.

Fall always brought the Family Retreat at Yankee Springs.  We would watch “Wally the Whale” show, be in Saturday night skits and games Sarah and Emily’s mom made up and once we even went mud bogging with our gutless 2 wheel pickup on the state park trails.  The Thompson’s led the way with their 4 wheeler and we never quit laughing.  One of the highlights of Fall Retreat was when Emily got baptized and the guitars played “Step by Step”, Emily’s favorite song.

We did lots of things together at each other’s houses.  We rode with Emily as she drove their car all over the yard (she was about 10).  We played her piano in her basement.  She came over to our house and we had “volleyball tournaments” with birthday balloons and streamers for equipment.  There were intensely competitive complete with a trophy (seriously!!!).  One time we got into a big fight over the championship.  Em also helped us gather sap for syrup and we often played in the hay loft.

We were the young ones at youth group.  We loved to play football and Emily was maybe the toughest of all.  Sometimes she forgot she was a girl.  One time David slugged her and she slugged him back and said, “Don’t ever hit a girl!” and she meant it.  David never did again.  One of the last events we went to together was Acquire the Fire, an enormous youth rally at the RCA dome in Indianapolis.  We praised God together in a big way.

After that we all got busy in high school.  Emily in volleyball and us in sports and music.  Our families were now at different churches.  About once a year we got to see Em play at Lakewood.  Each time we noticed how tall and grown up and beautiful she had become.  We didn’t hang out much but we always had that connection like brothers and sisters, and especially as brothers and sisters in Christ.

A crushing blow did not even describe the pain we felt when we learned of Emily’s accident and then days later, her death.  We felt an indescribable feeling of loss and sadness.  But true to Emily’s personality, she left beautiful moments of joy her last days as she shared that God had a purpose for her.  It gave us hope as we know God had a purpose for us even through the loss of our friend Emily.  We remEMber with gratitude all that Em was to us and thank God for her.  We look forward to fulfilling God’s purpose for us on earth.  And we have great expectations when “One of these days we’re gonna walk with the saints (including Emily) that have gone before”.

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The Benedict family has always been very special to our family.  They were ones that were just enough ahead of us in our Christian walk to encourage us but always were open and honest and always extended grace as we were finding our way within our faith.  We quickly developed a deep love and friendship.  Our family having girls, there’s was one filled with 5 boys.  We enjoyed what they offered and appreciated and supported their gifts.  They reciprocated and supported Sar and Em in their gifts and talents and together as families we established a lasting deep friendship based on Christian love.  Something must be said about the bond that is established during the child-raising years where parents strive to be what God intends us to be and friends that encourage and hold each accountable to the goals and desires that they have in common.  Our families would have bonfires together where the kids would be playing hide and seek or make up games which always included laughter and memories, while the parents talked openly and honestly about the struggles of staying the course.  Quite often we would go out for dinner on Sunday’s together (usually if the week hadn’t allowed fun time) to enjoy each others company and again memories and connections were made. 
We often found ourselves as leaders at many youth rallies where our children would take part.  And who can forget the “Bibles to Russia” event back in the Benedict woods complete with quads, fireworks, the Russian army and safety would be just beyond the pond.  With the investment of time, we were believing that the sacrifices made and testimonies heard and events and concerts attended would leave an impressionable imprint on the hearts of our children.  We had the common thread of instructing our children in the way that they should go in hopes that when they were older, they would not depart from it.  We have seen the fruits of our labor in many ways with our children.  And although Em never got to the “older” part, the comfort we find in knowing she had made that all important decision for Christ and loved Him so much has given us comfort.  The time spent in getting to know the Lord and seeking Him endlessly in our early years of raising our children and all the investments made in keeping the faith a priority in our family has helped in our darkest hours.Times are different now between our families but the love runs deep. 
We are now experiencing the empty nest and watching Sar and Adam establish their own family.  The Benedicts are still in the throws of parenting, though parenting really never does end for any of us.  When Em’s accident occurred there probably wasn’t a family more devastated than the Benedicts.  The deep concern in their eyes then and even now speaks volumes to our hearts. Life’s demands wouldn’t allow for them to be with us as much physically after Em’s death but they certainly prayed  for our family and their hearts bled for each of us separately as they knew us intimately and knew our deepest struggles because they really KNEW us.  Our friendship  had been nurtured, cultivated and established back at the beginning of our Christian walk and those are bonds that run deep and true.  We are forever grateful for to the Benedict family for the love shared, memories made and the friendship God has blessed us with.