It's no secret that 2019 has been an emotionally challenging year for Granger and Amber Smith. Their son, River, tragically passed away at the beginning of June and now as summer comes to a close, the couple's children London and Lincoln are preparing to return to school. Amber has been vocal on Instagram about sharing her feelings since the accident and she recently shared a post reflecting on this time of the year without River.
Back to school. Man. The full gamut of emotions today. So happy and proud for London entering 2nd grade. So excited for Lincoln to be able to walk into Kindergarten at the same school as his big sister. Yet, I’m also so sad they won’t have their little brother bouncing and running down the halls, making everyone laugh at drop off. I would normally be going home with just River for another year before he started pre-k. I was so excited to have the one on one time with him while big bro and sis were at school. He was already belting out his “ABCD’s” and teaching me the difference between an excavator and front loader. But sometimes the plans we make for ourselves don’t come to pass. Sometimes God has another path for you, your family, and your heart. This sucks and it will suck for the rest of my life, but I’m choosing to make the most out of the hand that we’ve been dealt. I’m choosing to smile, through tears, and get excited for London and Linc because they need and deserve that. I’m going to focus on living a life of meaning for River’s honor, creating the foundation in his name to help others, and getting closer to Jesus and my family & friends than I’ve ever been. Not today Satan.
If you’re having a hard time, going through a “why god” season, and your life isn’t what you planned it to be, “you CAN do it”. You have a purpose. Your grief and joy can coexist. It’s not over yet. Just dig deep. Fight when you can and hit your knees when you can’t. Let’s all pray for our kiddos and our teachers and our schools. May God be by their side every step of the way. 🙏🏼 📚 ✏️ And thank you ALL for your words of encouragement, kindness & love. They really help my mama heart. ❤️
Matthew 11:28