PHOTOSGranger Smith’s Wife Amber Reflects On 2019 After Son’s Tragic Death — ‘Joy & Grief Can Coexist’
Dec. 31 2019, Published 7:30 p.m. ET
Country star Granger Smith and his wife Amber are taking a moment to reflect on the past year. The couple lost their youngest son, River, in June 2019 in a tragic drowning accident. Amber, 38, wrote about their heartbreaking year.
Amber posted an Instagram gallery of family photos, along with a drawing of River walking hand-in-hand with Jesus, as she stood with Granger, 40, and their son Lincoln and daughter London. “The year that brought me to my knees” Amber began her emotional Instagram caption about 2019. “The year our beautiful red-headed boy turned 3 & went Home. The year that same sweet boy saved two other lives. The year that broke my heart into pieces but also tempered my spirit.” She also wrote about how she became “the closest to God” she had even been before this past year, and that she can’t live without him.
“The year I cried every day for six months straight,” Amber continued. “The year we ministered to hundreds about grief and hope. The year we vowed to not let anything tear our family apart. The year we promised to find meaning and not reasons. The year Granger and I became closer than ever before. The year my eyes were truly opened to what is important. The year we’ve never felt more love from our community. The year I found out that joy and grief can coexist.”
“I can’t believe it’s been almost 7 months since we held our sweet Riv and that we will be starting a new year without him physically with us. Through this sadness, I’m hopeful for all that is to come," she lamented. She was very vocal at the time about how difficult it was to return to their everyday lives amid the tragedy.
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“My goals for the coming year are to grow the @theriverkellyfund and help as many people as we can, keep London and Lincoln thriving despite the heartache of the past year, grow in grace and faith with my Maker, share our story in the hopes of helping others, and be in the present moment, because as much as we want to plan and dream, today is all we have,” she said.
Amber concluded her post by wishing her followers happiness in 2020. “Know that as you head into a new decade, you are loved, you have purpose, you are stronger than you think, and you are never alone,” she wrote. “Thank you for following along with us on this journey, for supporting our family, Granger’s music and our healing.”
The grateful mother wrote, “We really do appreciate all of your stories, messages, letters and prayers. Have a safe and joyful New Year’s Eve everyone – love from all of us.”
Granger left a supportive comment for his wife underneath her social media update. “You and your words…You’ve found your voice,” the “Don’t Tread On Me” singer said, to which Amber replied, “Love you more than you know."
