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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

THE FOLLOWING IS A REPORT ON THE MEMORIAL SERVICES AND THE LIFE AND TIMES OF KIMBERLY RUTH WILSON WHO PASSED AWAY ON MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2005.

BY WAYNE C. ANDERSON.


The memorial service was held at the Free Methodist Church in Lawrence, Kansas, chosen because of it’s size, and was filled to its capacity of 500 with many standing in the back and on the sides of the church sanctuary.

For about 20 minutes prior to the services there was a slide show with pictures to music and some recordings of Kimber singing. It was full of some great memories of a bright and lively girl.

The memorial service began with the opening prayer for the presence of the Father of Lights, His comfort and the peace that passes our understanding, especially as such times as this – His Presence is necessary for us to have the miracle of peace and comfort – His healing balm for hearts in this great loss.

There was then the welcome on behalf of the Wilson family to this celebration of the life of Kimber Wilson’s life. Then came the Obituary of Kimberley Ruth Wilson.

Isaiah, the Prophet of the Lord, said, “The righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For the godly who die will rest in peace.”

The song “At Last” was sung by Lauren Mahew with accompaniment music from a CD. This was the song that Kimber dreamed of dancing to with her husband after the wedding ceremony. It was the dream of a little girl who looked forward to the day that she would meet that special man and marry. Lauren was such a close friend to Kimber and it meant so much to everyone.

The message was one of stated passion that is welling up on the inside of us. It is one that will save lives and provide to the destiny of our children. We are in a spiritual battle that is like that of no other time in the history of mankind. The world and the politics of the world want to deny that the battle is a spiritual one. People protect their right to promiscuity to the place of death and destruction of self and family – the people that they love most. Religious fanatics blow themselves up with bombs in order to kill others and state their cause which no one knows. Yet, there is denial that this is a spiritual battle to preserve the quality of life and peace.

Today, the voice or our passion for our children’s destiny is speaking. Kimber lived only 15 short years. About three weeks short of her 16th birthday. It is not right for parents to outlive their children.

Samuel Clement once said, when he was discussing how he had been informed of his daughter's sudden death, while he was away in England, "It still amazes me, it's one of the mysteries of our nature, that a man so unprepared could receive a thunder stroke like that and live."

King David spoke of a great spiritual truth when he said, “But now the child is dead . . . Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23)

The young people in the audience are hurting at the loss of a friend. But I asked every young person to look around at the parents in the place and see their hearts desire to have you live out your destiny in life. So, many of their rules and orders are because of their fear that you will not be able to do that. I don’t believe this is wrong. I believe that it is love. I ask you who are the young to look deeper into the love of your parents and communicate with them with this insight.

There are many commercials that are teaching parents to talk to their children. However, we are pleading with you young people to talk to your parents. If you can look past their condemnations and conclusions, their rules, their advice, and see the fear that motivates them so many times and realize that the fear is because of their great love for you.

They were the ones that held you as a baby and looked into your eyes and saw a future and a hope. So often you threaten that hope and future – not meaning to.

That which took Kimber’s life was a thrill seeking game. She played it for more than a year. Her parents knew nothing of it and have now such a startling education concerning it. It is called by many names: Choking Game – Pass Out Game – Fainting Game – Dream Game.

Her death was an accident. She did not in any way mean to die. She was excited about life and loved God. She would have been in A-Team training in just a few weeks. Her future looked very good to her and she did not take her own life. She did not know how dangerous the game is. Playing this deadly game did not take the sparkle from her eyes. She did not take drugs or drink alcohol. She loved to worship God in self abandonment.

The astounding thing is that we are hearing more young people who know of it, experience it, or are even addicted to this thing and their parents don’t even know it exists.

There is a great silence that is deafening!

Parents, I adjure you by Christ Jesus not to provoke your children but to give them a loving hearing ear. I understand the pain of all of this. But, life can not be all about you. There must be a hope for tomorrow without you and me. When God speaks of a future and a hope He is speaking of the generations that come after you who build from you accomplishments. Just like the rest of you parents, I can say that I have been young and now I am old. My hope and your hope is in the young destinies that are in our midst.

Life is a sacred thing and is given to us by a loving God and Father. Yet for those who love Him and acknowledge Him, to pass through the veil into His presence is our most glorious of experiences! We might look at it this way: All of life is not about being here but about getting there! Heaven is our true home! We do not get there by our good behavior and our earthly efforts. We go when His great voice calls us through that veil because our faith has established a relationship with Him whereby we can hear that voice that calls us!

Because of the tragedy of 9-11 there came to this nation a greater awareness of family, love toward those we love and a kind of softness that was not there before. This incident and the untimely death of Kimber ought to do the same thing.

Parents, it is time to do more listening than talking. Do not be so self centered that you are embarrassed by your child’s behavior. Your heavenly Father is not embarrassed by yours.

Young people, it is time for you to break the power of silence and secrecy and live! Establish a new language of love with your parents or some adult that is trustworthy if your parents are too selfish to be attentive.
Three weeks ago, Kimberly gave a testimony of her commitment to Jesus Christ in a Church Service at River Of Fire Church. The Wilson family shared a video of that testimony so that all could hear of the committed heart of their daughter/sister.

Prayer of Comfort and dismissal was one that encompassed the thoughts that were shared.
The interment (burial) was near the Kansas town of Paxico. In a quiet and beautiful setting, Kimber was laid to rest.

Comments

this is really sad and i almost cried when i read this kids shouldnt play this game kids are lsing there lives for playing this game and it is really sad i wish that we could encourage people not to play the game because its sad to watch kids my age passaway.my prayers are with kimbers family god bless yall

Posted by shaina at Saturday, March 04, 2006 13:44:17

I can only say that I am so terribly sorry for your loss. Kimberly was a beautiful young girl, and it is terrifying to know that these things can happen right under one's own roof and not know it. Thank you for bringing attention to this terrible situation and I can only hope that, by sharing this information, you save another parent from experiencing what you did. You are doing a great service to your community in sharing your grief.

Posted by Lucy at Sunday, March 05, 2006 10:40:11

I am sorry for your loss. I work with teens as a therapist and am grateful for this information with hopes of understanding and helping teens who participate in the "game" which I believe is not known for the dangerous activity that it is. Thank you for sharing Kimberly's story. God Bless You.

Posted by EEK at Monday, March 27, 2006 22:03:45

Thank you for this information I never even heard of this Im very sorry and I now I have a perfect speech topic to tell my class how scary and stupied this is,... thank you again xxoo

Posted by ally at Friday, April 07, 2006 18:17:19

I had heard of this game being played when I was in high school, not more than 5-6 years ago. But, I didn't know of anybody personally that played that game, and I thought was a game that had only reached the big cities and that it would take a while until the trend reached small Kansas towns, like where I was from. When I listened on the radio to the broadcast that Kimber's parents were on, I heard Lawrence, KS. That is only 20 min. from where I live. I guess hearing that it was so close to home made it clear to me how real it is everywhere, not just in big cities and big schools. My sympathies on the upcoming 1 year anniversary of your daughter's passing. - Gardner, KS

Posted by Taren at Thursday, June 08, 2006 11:15:15

This is so tragic, I had no idea. I have a 16 year old & have asked her about this she had never heard of it & I am going to make her read this info hopefully she will. My daughter is a good kid, Sunday school youth group bible camp type of girl, but I don't think this will eliminate her from all this garbage. I am so sorry & feel for you. It just breaks my heart to no end & am praying for your strenght you have to talk about it on radio & on this web site. Thank you so much. Our children have a tendency not to tell us everything, even though we try. So I want to thanks you so much for the info.

Posted by Judy Staiger at Thursday, June 08, 2006 15:01:32

After hearing the radio broadcast today on Focus on the Family, I sat each of my three boys down to explain and discuss this. I couldn't believe what I was hearing on the radio. I had never heard of the choking game, but I praise God that I did today. We live 20 minutes from Lawrence, KS. My oldest son had heard of this girl's death back when it happened, but hadn't shared it with us. I am thankful for her parent's courage to share with us the realities of this so-called "game". Lives will be saved. Our prayers are that God is filling the void left in your family with His grace-filled love.

Posted by Beth at Thursday, June 08, 2006 20:30:01

i'm truly sorry for your lost, and will keep you and your family in my prayers. She was obviously a treasure and always remember, God only takes the best for His Garden

Posted by Joi - Nassau, Bahamas at Thursday, November 16, 2006 14:55:05

i miss you kimberly you will always be in me and tekas heart we will never forget you,<3

Posted by taeana at Friday, September 21, 2007 23:13:27

This is wild. My sister and her boyfriend used to play this game a few years ago. Im about 5 years older and had never heard of it. Im so glad that nothing happened to either one of them. I am truly sorry for your loss. I have 2 kids and I would be lost without them. God Bless you.

Posted by Diana Wilson at Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:07:45

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