God is in Control

Sometimes in life things happen that you never plan for.

When we were pulling into Atlanta on Monday night, Mom called me to tell Brittany and her 15-month old son, Shep, had been killed in a horrific car accident outside of their hometown.

Brittany dated a boy from my high school. Our senior year, she won Miss Ozark the same time I won Miss Houston County. We went to Troy together, where we pledged different sororities, but were picked for Freshmen Forum together.

We went to Miss National Peanut Festival together. Brittany, Kristen (Miss Dothan), Whitney (Miss Ashford), Courtney (Miss Walton County), some others and I all buddied up together throughout the week. We all kept each other sane through the pageant. We could have no contact with anyone from the outside world, so we became a family. We were each others hairdressers, stylists, and psychiatrists.

Brittany is third from the right on the bottom row, next to Kristen, who is next to me, on the end.

We cried together when we saw our fans standing outside the Civic Center while we boarded the bus. We laughed at the one girl who drove us NUTS. We complained to each other about how stressed we were and we were all just ready to go home.

And we cheered like crazy when Brittany won.

Brittany represented the best in each of us. She was smart, but relatable. She was charming, yet soft spoken. And, good grief, she was beautiful and her smile could light up a room.

She decided last minute to put her hair up for evening gown, saying, "My Mom is going to be so mad at me!" But she was stunning in that blue dress. She won over the crowd as we watched on closed circuit backstage by saying, during her onstage question, the moment she accepted Christ as her Savior was her proudest accomplishment.

When we did roll call on the bus after the pageant and they called Brittany's name, we all shouted, "She's not here!!!!!" because she was in the limo being escorted as the new Miss National Peanut Festival.

Brittany gave up her crown in 2005. She then went on to marry and have a beautiful son and a successful career as an elementary school teacher.

She touched so many lives in the short time she was here on Earth.

When Mom told me of the news Monday night, my first thoughts went to her husband. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain that Clint is experiencing right now. To lose your wife and your son both in a matter of hours is incomprehensible unless you experience it. To know that they both had so much left to live is heartbreaking.

Many, many prayers have been lifted in the past few days for Brittany's family - prayers for peace, comfort, and strength. Thank our God that we all know Brittany's faith and that we will all see her again one day in Heaven.

Life is short.

I looked at Ben Monday night with new eyes, knowing that it could all be over in seconds, if that was God's will. I told him that I love him countless times, because each time could be the last time I tell him. I constantly touched his arm, held his hand, gave him kisses, or hugged him, because I never want to forget the feeling of him. I do not want to imagine life without him. I cannot fathom him not being beside me for the plans we have made. I do not want to know the pain of losing him, especially when he has so much left to give. I do not want him to experience this pain, either.

I know that life in Heaven is so much greater than life here on Earth, but I want to savor every bit here that the Lord allows me to have.

Lord, may we never forget that You are in control of all things - including life and death. We know that all things come from You, and Your plan is greater than any plan we could have for ourselves. Thank you for the comfort in knowing that we as Christians will be with You in eternity, along with all those who have passed before us who claim You as their Savior.

Brittany, thank you for shedding your light on those you touched. We will never forget you.