Redeeming Heartache
September 14, 2022
Do you know Tim and Stacy King? There are many reasons you would be blessed by knowing them. They are very accomplished in various areas of life, contributors in our world, and Jesus followers who are part of NewPointe. I am blessed to call them my friends.
But the reason I want to share them with you today is because of the choices they have made in the face of deep tragedy. I think we’d all agree that among the very hardest things, perhaps the hardest, that could ever happen in life is the death of a child. A young life over too quickly is so difficult that it stunts and ends real living and happiness for many who experience it.
But Tim and Stacy have handled things differently. Two years ago, their vivacious and beautiful daughter Kaleigh Rae suddenly died. Everyone who knew her, including myself, were devastated and stunned. I couldn’t even imagine the emotions her parents were navigating just to stay standing.
Here we are, two years in, and Tim and Stacy are taking us to school on how to face grief and honor Jesus and the ones we have lost. Last Thursday night was the second annual night to honor Jesus and celebrate Kaleigh’s life. I didn’t get to attend because I was out of the country, but I got a foretaste of the faith and triumph through which they are standing just from the invitation. Read this and grow:
Greetings in the name of Jesus, the giver of life and the taker of life. He is the reason we will see Kaleigh Rae again.
This is your invitation to the second annual Kaleigh Rae Night of Praise to be held on Thursday evening, August 25, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Whetstone Event Center, located at 8009 Beeson St., in Louisville, Ohio.
If you were a part of last year‘s Kaleigh Rae Night of Praise, you will remember that the weather did not cooperate. We are pleased to inform you that this year we have a giant tent as a backup plan. We will again feed all attendees beginning at 6:30 p.m. Breaking bread together over dinner is an integral part of the evening. Please come hungry. Weather cooperating, we will be outside under the stars in God’s creation for the praise and worship time. This evening, especially the praise and worship time, is for anybody who has experienced a loss in their life, which is pretty much everyone you know. Please invite those in need of healing from their respective losses.
The following is a reminder of the purposes of the Kaleigh Rae Night of Praise. These purposes include the four character qualities that represent our Kaleigh Rae that my family chooses to remember.
1. Glorify God and make Jesus proud (1 Corinthians 10:31). The last handwritten note I received from Kaleigh encouraged me to “make Jesus proud.” The last text I got from Kaleigh was “Do your job for the glory of God.”
2. Perpetuate the “Kaydemic” character qualities:
- Child of the King
- Growing in your faith
- Using your gifts to love and serve people
- Pray hard, play hard, and laugh a lot
3. To help all of us with our grief. I have studied loss and grief in college courses, I have walked numerous families through loss, I have even taught grief classes. All of that is out the window. We have asked and will continue to ask all of you to continue to pray and help us with our grief as we help you with your grief. What is it that you have never fully grieved over?
4. To be a blessing to you. We are blessed to be a blessing. Kaleigh, many, many times in her life was a blessing to our family and a blessing to so many of you. We want the “Kaleigh Rae Night of Praise” to be a blessing to all of you, especially those who have had a significant loss in their lives.
Abiding in His grace,
Tim and Stacy
Kyler and Kourtney (and kids)
Stephen and McKala
There is so much in this invitation to cause us all to grow, but one line I want to highlight is this: "These are the things our family chooses to remember.” We become what we focus on, and we get to choose that. Whatever is on your heart and mind today, you must decide whether you will focus on the struggle, the injustice, the pain—or if you will look to Jesus and your faith in Jesus who gives us all things. It will determine the joy and satisfaction level and the outcome of your life.
Thank you, Tim and Stacy, for teaching and leading us.