Singing "Don't Give Up" at the close of the Preaching Conference reminded me of my experience a year ago with that moving song.

I came down to get breakfast on a Saturday morning and put on my "Healing Grace" CD. As I sat at the table scanning the morning paper my eye was caught by an article about a young person from Columbine High School. The best friend of one of the students who had been shot had committed suicide. When I got to the place in this tragic story where the teenager explained he was taking his life because he thought life was not worth living any more, that no one really cared, I suddenly became aware of the words of your song playing in the background. "Don't give up, someone really loves you,. Don't give up someone really cares. Don't give up, someone really loves you and that someone is the Lord."

Tears began to roll down my cheeks, as I thought of the tragedy of this young man. It was then that my own 13 year old walked into the kitchen. He has almost never seen me cry. "What's wrong, Dad," he wanted to know. I read him the story from the newspaper and we listened to "Don't Give Up" together. I knew seventh grade had been a rough year for him and there had been a lot of conflict at home. As the song ended I looked him in the eyes and said, "Mark, no matter how you may feel you have messed up at school or here at home, I want you to know somebody really loves you." He didn't say anything, but I could see the emotion in his eyes.

That Sunday I shared the article, the song and the special way God had brought them together with my congregation. It was a moving experience. There were many who needed that message, "Don't Give Up - Someone really loves you!" Several people asked me for the name of the CD after the service to share with friends. It felt like ripples of God's hope and grace spreading across a pond.

I just wanted to share this story with you and thank you for the gift of this song in behalf of all the people it has touched.