Memories of Emily
by David and Daniel Benedict
"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".
*************************************************
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.