A Very Sad 4th of July

I awoke Monday morning with a very sad text on my phone.

It was from my church. The text read that two of our church members needed prayer badly.
12 year old Joshua Rowley had perished from a boating accident and his older half brother, Matthew McAlexander was in critical condition.

It took a few hours before I was able to learn what had happened. A drunken boater had run over Josh & Matt while they were tubing on the Sherman Lake Reservoir in Nebraska.
Joshua was killed instantly. Matt was in very critical condition.

The family was in Nebraska to visit relatives for two weeks. Matt had even brought along his high school sweetheart of two and a half years. This was supposed to be a fun fourth of July weekend. And because of a careless, repeat drunk driver offender named Brian Packer, it turned into the most heartbreaking weekend of their lives.

The Rowley family has seen tragedy before. In November 2004, an angry ex neighbor opened fire on the families he had been feuding with over property lines. Denny Booth had already killed two neighbors when he confronted reserve sheriff deputy James E. Johnson, Matt and Josh's grandfather. Johnson's son in law, Jeremy Rowley (Matt & Josh's father) heard the gunshots and raced outside to confront the shooter. Jeremy shot and wounded the shooter and was shot himself but James Johnson died. Our town was in shock. This kind of stuff just doesn't happen in Kernersville.

Our church encircled the Rowley family. This was such a tragedy for our little town. Mr. Johnson was my son's school crossing guard so I had a white cross placed at the school in his memory. I was a secretary at First Christian Church at the time and was working the day of Mr. Johnson's service. Flowers filled every corner of our church. We all stood silent when the casket was brought in. I will never forget the image of his grandsons standing by his coffin.

Later that year Joshua became a student of my 1st grade classes held at our church on Wednesday night. He was a happy little guy. Always smiling and not shy at all. I was so impressed by this family and their faith. That Christmas Jeremy Rowley, still healing from his gun shot wounds, was the Grand Marshall at our Christmas parade. His sons rode in the convertible with him. They were happy, smiling, waving it was what our little town needed to see.

And as time does, the family's wounds were healing until this weekend.

Matt held on for almost 72 hours before succumbing to his injuries. He was an organ donor. And as his mom so eloquently put, "We prayed for a miracle to come for Matt, instead he is able to provide a miracle for other families."
Over 60 people will benefit from Matt's donation of life.

And once again, our little town is left to grieve with the Rowley family. But this time, its going to be much harder to heal.

What this drunk boater stole from this family is devastating. Matt was on his way to being a fireman. Joshua had his entire life ahead of him. Instead of taking full responsibility, Mr. Brian Packer, according to police "lawyered up". Mr. Packer's family should urge him to do the right thing and help investigators determine what lead to this horrific accident.

If you would like to help this precious family as they begin to rebuild shattered lives, please consider contributing to the Josh & Matt benefit.

A Hot Dog Supper has been planned if you live in the Kernersville area.

Bracelets are also being sold to help raise money for the family.

Prayers are also deeply appreciated. A Caring Bridge page has been set up, too.

July 4th, the night before Matt passed away, this was the sky in and around our hometown of Kernersville, a double rainbow.

(photo credit Shira Friend)

This is a poem Matt's girlfriend shared on her Facebook page. She seems so much more mature than the average teenager. Her grace is inspiring. And this poem is truly uplifting:

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no gloom-filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little-but not too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me-but let me go

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone.

It's all part of the Master's plan

A step on the road to home

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds

Miss me but let me go

Our town and this family has been shaken, but our faith remains as strong as ever. We believe in God and we believe in reuniting with our loved ones in Heaven.

As the line in one of my favorite Chris Rice's song goes:

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye,
Go in peace and laugh on Glory's side...and
Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus and live!