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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Go Ahead and Try to Stop Me

Notes:  There are few things I want to tell you about Jace and about what my family is going through.  Some things I can say now, some things will have to wait until later. 

Cody Sartin plead not guilty to first degree murder, and the preliminary hearing has been set for August 10th.


A few times in my life I have felt like I stood in the presence of greatness.  The governor came and had lunch with me at school when I was 16.  I touched Oral Robert’s head once when I sat behind him in the Mabee Center (just to say I did it). I met the mom of Rachel Scott who stood up for Jesus during the Columbine shootings.  I got the thumb print autograph of one of the men who killed the missionary Jim Elliot and later became a believer in God.  I went to a New Kids on the Block Concert when I was 12.  All of those were trumped today by an 8 year old girl. 

I am friends with the grandma and mom of the Broken Arrow Angel, a little girl who was kidnapped and sexually abused three years ago.  This family has shown amazing strength and dignity in the midst of this nightmare, and I have respected their faith and perseverance.  Today, I was in the court room with them when the man who did this was sentenced to six life sentences plus 40 something yearsfor what he did to this little girl.  Everyone was nervous when the little girl got up to read her statement to the judge and the perpetrator.  She didn’t look nervous at all.  She looked powerful.  I wish I could accurately describe the way the girl stood up, read her statement, and with the last sentence, looked directly at the man who hurt her and said with stern determination, “I'm going to be what God wants me to be and nothing's stopping me, especially you!”

It was so freaking awesome.  I wanted to stand up and clap, but no one else did, so I cried instead.  This family  didn’t let what happened destroy them.  They fought back.  They are overcoming.  They are letting good come from evil.  What you do when you’re handed something awful in life is your choice.  Whether someone in your family is killed, you get diagnosed with cancer, you lose your job, or your baby wakes you up at 4 am every morning, you decide what you do next. 

When your family member gets murdered, you can run to God or away from him.  I’m running to him.

When your family member gets murdered, you can you can let your anger consume you, or you can let it fuel you.  My anger will result in lives being saved. 

When your family member gets murdered, you can stop living too , or you can live your life so that it honors his memory.  I plan to make Jace shine. 

When your family member gets murdered, you can hate, or you can forgive.  I’m going to find a way to forgive, because if I don’t it will hurt me more than it will hurt him.  I won’t let him hurt me again.

(You can insert your own bad thing for ‘when your family member gets murdered.’)

I feel like I have had more than my fair share of bad things happen to me in my life.  I’ll give you the list later.  But today I want to look Satan in the eye and say,

I'm going to be what God wants me to be
and nothing's stopping me, especially you!

I’m glad I have such wonderful role models in this little girl’s family.  I’m humbled by their strength and courage.  I’ll post her entire statement below.  She deserves to be heard and honored.  The family reads this blog.  Tell them you’re proud of them too. 




Statement:
You need to respect your punishment,
that was a bad thing you did.

I don't want you hurting anybody else
that's why you should be in jail forever,
so accept it.

God made you but you are not like God's person,
you are the devil's person.

You should have been on God's side
and this would never have happened.

Back then I was the little angel fish
and you were the great white shark.

Now I'm the great white shark
and you're the little clown fish.

I'm going to forget all about you
and go on with my life how I want it to be
without any bad person stopping me.

I was only five years old, now I'm eight.
I'm going to be what God wants me to be
and nothing's stopping me, especially you!





27 comments:

  1. Very Moving!!! Keep the faith.

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  2. Stacey, thank you so much, very encouraging for me....Last week in Church, Tom Harrison said, "We are all struggling." And how true that statement is, we all struggle in different ways and all have very bad things happen at different times in our lives. I think losing a child, the way your family has, has to be the most difficult thing for a family to ever have to deal with, just has to be...but there will be much happiness again for you all....just as we all have great times of sorrow and times of joy...keeping you in my thoughts and prayers that that joy will be soon. Thank you for the story of the BA angel...what an inspiration.

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  3. margaret (aunt monkey)June 30, 2010 at 6:43 PM

    wow!!!!!!!! this little girl has so much knowledge.
    we will have to trust in God as much as she does, so that Cody will also get his time in jail to assure he never ever hurts anybody else.
    stacey, i do believe you will do what you set out to do..

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  4. Wow!! How touching. Thank you for sharing, my prayers are with the BA Angels family. That little girl is a hero in my eyes. So many adults have been thru the same thing she went thru and lost all faith. She is an inspiration!!
    I want you to know that your faith in God through all you have been through these last few weeks amazes me! You are such a strong woman and I am blessed to know you :)
    Kelly B

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  5. I only wish I (as an adult) had the courage and faith that this small child has...I have an 8 year old as well, and I applaud her for being able to face her demon and get on with her life...if we all could only live her words. I am praying for your family as well and that God will give you courage to fight this battle, so that Jace will have the justice he deserves!

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  6. What an amazing,and very strong 8 year old. I just wanted to take a second to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Music has always been an outlet for me when I am going through difficult times. I was listening to a song today, and I thought of you. It is called "Beauty From Pain" by Superchick, if you get a chance look it up on youtube, it's very moving. God bless you and your family, and I hope that you find beauty from pain.

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  7. wow..that is awesome..it gave me chills..praying tonite for this sweet girl and rejoicing justice was served..also praying the same happens for your sweet family

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  8. Such an amazing girl and family she has. I love that statement and I plan on saying it to satan also. Continued prayer for you and your family :)

    -Tammy

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  9. I think we can all learn from this amazing little girl. I know that I can. Jesus has already defeated Satan so Satan has no power over us. No matter how hard it is we must remember that. Thanks, Stacey for sharing this wonderful testimony and how God is working in both your family and this beautiful little girl's family.

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  10. Stacey,
    your words are ministering to people all from over. Now the BA angels words are as well. The faith and overcoming spirit of this girl is amazing. Many people will use her words, like you did, to take a stand against the enemy. God DOES turn to good what was meant for evil and He DOES restore joy for mourning. He WILL do this for your family.

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  11. Absolutely! Great post. Great perspective. Great great great. When you need bodies in the courtroom to show support, please let me know (or else I'll harass you on fbook..haha). I will be there. No matter what. As long as you want people to be, that is. Would never push my way in somewhere you guys would prefer to have privacy... :) Love you.
    -Jackie

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  12. And all the people said "Amen!"

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  13. Great post! VERY brave 8 year old...good for her! That would be so hard to do even for an adult! Everything in life is a decision, I have been saying this to myself for quite some time, and it's true. When bad things happen you can choose to live greatly and influence those around you for the good or curl up in a ball and hide from the world. It's up to us! I love your blog. I am so sorry about what Jace had to go through, what your family is now going through! Keep pushing forward with God on your side!

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  14. WOW and double WOW. What an awsome way this child handled this awful thing that happened to her. We could all take a lesson from this child. After all the Bible does say, "And a little child shall lead them". That is so very ture in this case.
    Carol Wade

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  15. Way to go little Angel. You ARE what God wants you to be. Keep walking that path and do great things young lady.

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  16. Wow ... what more can I say but Wow! I hope that little girl knows how many people were praying for her! And as a mother, her story and Jace's have made such a huge impact on me. It's terrible that such evil like this exist, but your faith is inspiring. And to the BA Angel ... YOU are an inspiration to me. There are adults that will never have the bravery, strength, or determination that you do! You will be what God wants you to be, and standing in there today and saying those words was an amazing start!

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  17. Stacey ~ Thanks for sharing this moving story!!! The BA Angel is a brave little girl whose words said it all! Bless her for speaking out and bless you for sharing her words with so many of us. We all stand to learn from the heart of a child!

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  18. Wow, what a powerful statement. Such an inspiration. God bless them always.

    Thinking of you and Jace, (HUGS))

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  19. -To the little angel fish who became the big white shark-- SWIM BABY SWIM. Be the best you can be. My prayers to all the "fish" in the sea.

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  20. what an amazing and perfectly right little girl. Thank you so much for writing this bog. i feel touched and inspired every time i read an entry.

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  21. I love this post, and to me one of the most powerful parts is the contrast between how you could react and how you will react to this heinous crime. I am so sorry you are having to go through this pain, but you are touching lives like crazy. You probably don't even know it. Keep letting that faith shine!

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  22. I hadn't visited the blog in several days, but please know Jace and your family is still in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad to hear that you are still running to God. Jace's life was a light - keep it burning!

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  23. wow thanks stacy u and ur family will be in my prayers.

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  24. amazing. i am so proud of her and dont even know her. i have thought of her so so often tho. happy to know she is doing well after all that she went thru.....danni

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  25. That little girl is amazing. her words went through me she has the courage that a grown woman has and I applaud her. She did something I couldnt ever do and everyone should be proud of her, I know I am. I am so glad the man that did what he did to her will be in prison his whole life. You keep your head up young lady and do what ever it is you want to do with your life.

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