Something the prince never knew

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I have been crying this morning. Steven Curtis Chapman lost his daughter in a tragic accident. Here is an excerpt from a Chicago Tribune article:

The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of the family’s home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The brother, whose name and exact age weren’t available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.

“It looks like a tragic accident,” she said.

For those of you who know us well, you know that this just hits a little too close to home. Jonathon was the one to call and tell me about it this morning.

This is the daughter that Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the song “Cinderella” about.

The words even say, “She spins and she sways to whatever song plays, without a care in the world. And I’m sitting here bearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s been a long day and there’s still work to do. She’s pulling at me saying, ‘Dad, I need you. There’s a ball at the castle, and I’ve been invited. And I need to practice my dancing. So please, Daddy, please…’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. Because I know something the prince never knew. Oh I’ll dance with Cinderella; I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone.’

She says he’s a nice guy, I’d be impressed. She wants to know if I approve of the dress. She says ‘Daddy, the prom’s just one week away, and I need to practice my dancing.’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. For I know something the prince never knew. So I’ll dance with Cinderella, I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone. She will be gone.

She came home today, with a ring on her hand. Just glowing and telling us all they had planned. She says, ‘Dad, the wedding’s still six months away. But I need to practice my dancing. So please, Daddy, please…’

So I’ll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. For I know something the prince never knew. So I’ll dance with Cinderella; I don’t want to miss even one song. Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight… and she’ll be gone.”

Thank God that he understood how quickly time goes by. I know he never dreamed this would happen, but he was very aware that they may not have forever. I hope he cherished every moment with his daughter. I hope he stopped to dance with her whenever she asked. And I hope this is a reminder to all of us to slow down and enjoy each dance. We never know when the clock will strike midnight.

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