Josh Hamilton and Shannon Stone

"My faith in the Lord and my relationship with Jesus Christ on a daily basis helps me handle life," Hamilton said while in Phoenix for the All-Star Game. "And this is life. There are tragedies, there are things that happen that you have no control over. And you don’t understand them and will never understand them until you can understand them in front of your maker." - Josh Hamilton

By now you've heard the story (and here). Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers through a ball into the stands, and Shannon Stone reached for it, but lost his balance and fell to the deck below, and later died from his injuries. 

I cannot get this story out of my head. It hits home for us for so many different reasons.

My husband is a fireman, so was Shannon Stone. We are such a baseball family, so are both of these families. My husband would do anything to grab a ball for his son, or his daughters, so did Shannon Stone. 

I've thought about this so much, I just don't know why things like this happen. It just makes me sick to my stomach. I have heard on the news and such that Josh Hamilton is having a hard time with this. I cannot imagine the pain that the Stones are also going through. My heart goes out to both families. I pray that the Stones will be encouraged by all of us who are praying for them. I pray that something good comes out of all of this. 

I do know that God does not make mistakes. Things happen, and Josh Hamilton put it into words so much better in the quote above. I also heard that Josh will eventually get to speak to this family.  I am encouraged that he will get to share his faith. 

Please pray for both these families. Feeling the loss of a father must be hard, and being someone involved in a freak accident like this would be tough to live with as well.  Pray that the Lord will give Josh Hamilton the right words to say, that the family will be open to hear what he has to say, and that our Lord Jesus Christ's name will be praised in all of this.

Praise You in This Storm 

by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus