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Purposely and repeatedly injuring a child... hard to understand.
I once saw a young girl in an unhappy situation. Over time, I thought about the story of Cinderella, how Cinderella and this young girl were both from blended families, and I wrote the song, "Sweet Cinderella" (version one) in 2003. In 2006, I spoke to Kathie Briggs and she granted me permission to rewrite this song to pay tribute to her granddaughter, Kelsey Briggs. The "original Sweet Cinderella" doesn't want to be known as an "abused" child, but was happy with this revision to bring awareness to abuse prevention.
In the storybook tale of Cinderella, Cinderella's mother died, her father was worried about her being without a mother figure, he married, and soon thereafter, he also died. Cinderella became an abused child, but was eventually rescued out of her unhappy home life.
But not every story has a happy ending. Thank you to the Briggs family for giving me permission to pay tribute to Kelsey in this song. Kelsey was a brave, little girl whose life ended tragically, but her life story can be told again and again to bring awareness and to help protect other children and encourage people to speak up for suspected abuse victims.
SWEET CINDERELLA: A TRIBUTE TO KELSEY BRIGGS
(Click here to play this song.)
She's pretty as a picture
You should see her face
She took it from an angel
Her heart's from the same place
Evidently someone didn't seem to know
She really is a princess
And should be treated so
O-o-o-o Sweet Cinderella
O-o-o-o Sweet Cinderella
Hurtful words delivered
Seemed to turn to stone
Eventually the anger grew
To touch her to the bone
Tears could fill the oceans
That fall from those who care
But knowing that her Prince would come (the Prince of Peace)
Would ease the burden there
O-o-o-o Sweet Cinderella
O-o-o-o Sweet Cinderella
I see the tears that you don't cry
I know the story behind the lie
I won't turn away without asking why
Not another day
Not another day
("Justice," "Kelsey")
I see the tears that you don't cry
I know the story behind the lie
I won't turn away without asking why . . .
(I won't turn away, I won't turn away, I'm asking "why?")
Why'd this happen to my baby?
Why did it take this to make you listen?
Why?
Music & Lyrics written December 2003 (Rewritten for Kelsey/January 2006)
Copyright PAu3-024-491/01-27-06/From The Heart (Collective Work)
(This song is also here: http://www.myspace.com/debraholloway )
The words in the song: "I see the tears that you don't cry" were in the original version and applies to both stories. The abused person can be seen in a state past tears. The photo below was the last time that the Briggs family saw Kelsey alive. Connie Mathews, my good friend and Kelsey's great-aunt, told me (regarding this photo), "There was nothing left." 
Kelsey was murdered on October 11, 2005 in Meeker, Oklahoma
at the age of 2. (Photo used by permission from Kathie Briggs on 12/22/06.)
Below is a poem that my friend wrote shortly after Kelsey's death:
A Poem for Kelsey
My name is Kelsey, I'm only two.
I'm way too young to know right from wrong, I can barely sing a children's song.
When you hurt me, why can't you see, I don't understand, I'm not even three.
I try to walk: "Can't!"
My little body's black and blue and now you have taken my family too.
I love my daddy and he loves me, Grandma, PaPa, where can you be?
I don't forget, I think of you and when I'm hurt, your love shines through.
It's dark in here, I can't go on... No! Wait!
There's light, an angel's song.
I feel God's hand lift me away, He has the perfect place to play.
I know you hurt, I see your tears, but only God knows why I'm here.
Daddy, I'm okay, my body's new and I will never, ever forget you.
My name was Kelsey.
Connie Mathews
Kelsey's great-aunt
Kathie Briggs likes the song 'Sweet Cinderella', but she wanted me to write a song specifically for Kelsey. In May 2006, Kathie excitedly emailed me back when I was emailing her song ideas, telling me that I was "hitting the nail on the head!"
A SOLDIER'S CHILD
(LANCE AND KELSEY'S STORY)
(Click here to play this song.)
He loves his country
He served his country
He signed his name and kept his word to an Army of one
He missed his sweetheart
Kelsey never left his mind
The hardest part was to kiss her sweet face and to leave his girl behind
Some things are worth fighting for
Some things cannot be ignored
Some times the right thing to do is to take a stand for the red, white, and blue
She loved her Daddy
She missed her Daddy
She couldn't tell him, he didn't know, she was fighting her own war
A tiny soldier
How she makes her Daddy proud
Her voice was silenced, but not her story, and her purpose screams out loud!
Some things are worth fighting for
Some things cannot be ignored
Always the right thing to do is to take a stand for the black and blue
Some things are worth fighting for!
Some things are worth fighting for!
Some things are worth fighting for!
Music and lyrics written May 2006 by Debra Holloway & Kathie Briggs
Copyright PAu3-077-608/11-09-06
  
Genesis 4:9-10
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother, Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground."
Read more about Kelsey's life at www.kelseyspurpose.org
Read more about child abuse prevention at http://www.brokenchild.org/
Someone Else...
She had stopped off at the grocery store,
Worn and tired from the stress of the day.
The lines were too long, the cashier was too slow,
She was anxious to be on her way.
A little boy stood behind her,
Upon his cheek an awful bruise.
He caught her gaze with sad, pleading eyes...
but she thought someone else would report the abuse.
She was far too behind that day, and dinner would be late.
Important errands that had to be done,
Tasks that just couldn't wait.
The bank, the pharmacy, the post office,
Too much that needed done...
Someone else must notice this, she couldn't be the only one!
Taking her change and grabbing her bags she looked back at him in line,
"Someone else will help you," she thought, "today I don't have time."
She thought of him as she drove home...
"Maybe he just had a bad fall..."
She lied to herself to ease her mind,
"Probably wasn't abuse after all!"
Later on that evening her chores complete,
Little ones tucked into bed...
She turned on the news as the anchorman announced:
"A Local Boy Is Dead".
The tears rolled down her cheeks as she bowed her head to pray...
"Oh dear God what have I done? How could I have just turned away?"
And all across her city, others fell to their knees,
Asking for forgiveness for ignoring the boy on TV.
He had silently begged each one of them for help,
on the streets and in the mall,
But each and everyone of them thought...
"Someone else will make the call."
Lacy Vaughn - 2007 -
A little over 2 years ago, I saw a story on the news in Ohio. A child in my town had been murdered. Beaten to death by her own mother. After inflicting the fatal injuries her mother left her in the back bedroom of their home to die...alone. Her name was Makayla Norris; she was 3 years old. After accepting a plea bargain that included a mandatory confession, Makayla's mother admitted to striking her daughter several times, shaking her and throwing her down a flight of stairs after she became angry when Makayla wouldn't take a nap. In return, she was given an appallingly light sentence. 8 years...8 years in exchange for a little girl's life. I was sickened. It wasn't the first story of abuse to break my heart, and it most certainly was not the last. But something clicked inside of me that day...something had to be done! In the days, weeks and months that followed, I struggled to find a way to get involved in the fight against abuse. Surely there was something in my area, somewhere to volunteer my time, somewhere to work with others who cared. I soon came to the realization that far more people focus their efforts on sweeping abuse under the rug. But I persisted, and not long after, found Kelsey's Purpose (www.kelseyspurpose.org) . A website dedicated to a little girl from Oklahoma, Kelsey Briggs, who lost her life from abuse related injuries despite months of documented abuse. I immediately fell in love with this beautiful little girl with the bow in her hair and an ornery smile, and was outraged to learn that countless amounts of people knew about the abuse she was sustaining, but did nothing. I remember it felt a little like coming home. As if this group of amazing and wonderful people were an extended family I hadn't even known existed. Through Kelsey's Purpose I came to know Debra Holloway, the creator of this website, and I am proud to call her my friend. She has given so much of her time, and so much of her heart to shedding the light upon the very issues people fight so hard to ignore. Maybe you are on this site today looking for guidance in your own situation, maybe you are here gathering information to help a friend, maybe you just stumbled across it. But whatever your reason might be, what really matters is that you are here. Abuse will not go away on it's own. Try as we might to hide from it, it is still there. The cycle of abuse will never be broken unless it is met head on. So now that you are here, make the decision to get involved, to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Make a difference in someone's life, make a difference in your own. It starts with you.
Lacy Vaughn (May 2007) |
Isaiah 61:8
For I, the LORD, love justice.
Speak up for the little ones...
Matthew 25:40
I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.
Credits
Sweet Cinderella: A Tribute to Kelsey Briggs (4 min. 23 sec.)
Recorded at THE Music Group
41 N.W. 144th Circle, Suite C
Edmond OK 73013
Owners: L.G. Hamilton and Chris Freels
L.G. Hamilton - engineer, producer, drums, and "the Prince of Peace" whisper.
Mark Hembree - bass, lead guitar, harmony, "softening" the original arrangement of this song
Mitch Bell - acoustic rhythm guitar
Chelsea Briscoe - Backup vocals/harmony
Michael & Jenny Affentranger - funding
Thank you to Vicki for inspiring the word "hurtful" and showing me where to put Kelsey's name in the song.
Thank you to Patrice (T.T.) and Vicki for your web page assistance.
Thank you, Cheryl Murphy, for allowing me to present this song and story at your Women's Conference at Meridian Avenue Baptist Church, OKC.
Kelly Hays, thank you for directing Chelsea my way, for your PowerPoint skills on the slideshow, and most of all, for your friendship, prayers, and your compassionate heart towards Kelsey's story.
A Soldier's Child (Lance and Kelsey's Story):
Recorded at THE MUSIC GROUP
L.G. Hamilton - engineer, producer, keys, drums, just everything except guitar - - I canNOT thank you enough, L.G. - - I LOVE YOUR STUDIO
Mitch Bell - Guitar (Mitch, I love how L.G. brags on you. I love working with the two of you!)
Dan Holloway - harmony
Dana Holloway - harmony
So many people helped me in my attempts to raise money to record this song...
Thank you for the cash donations, Vicki Payne, Barbara (Vicki's Mom), Christina Jobson, and Kelly LaRue.
Thank you, Julie, for donating the sale of your furniture.
Thank you, Connie, for buying my hutch for $100 instead of $75 knowing that the proceeds were going to this song.
Thank you, Vicki, for loaning me your HOME while you helped me orchestrate this giant, painful, hardly-profitable (because we don't know how to advertise) garage sale (you know... our little adventure that you now refer to as "The Nightmare"?). Thank you, Amber, for bringing so many boxes of items and helping. Thank you, Linda, David, Vicki, Stephanie, ChloeSunshine, Karen (Vicki's neighbor), George, Casey, Greg, Mom & DuWayne, Jenny & Michael, and Luke & Christian for your donations. Christina, thank you for driving out after work to help me set up. And Karen, Randy, and Stephanie, thank you for loaning the tables and clothes rack. And thank you to the sweet lady down the street who didn't buy any of our "treasures", but donated $5.00 for Kelsey's song saying that she wished it was more...
Thank you for the extra jobs George, Meg, and Dr. Murphy, so that I could complete this project.
Thank you all for the prayers for Kelsey's family. You don't even have to know this family to be touched by their story. I so admire their strength and determination to keep Kelsey's memory alive to help protect other abused children. Thank you, Gary & Carol Crossland and our Covenant Group, for the steady prayers for healing for my friends. Carol, thank you for responding to my emails with prayers, tears, and scriptural support and direction (such as Gen. 4:10.)
Thank you to my brother, Danny, and my sister, Dana, for taking off work and coming into the studio to sing back-up! WASN'T IT FUN!!!! And on top of THAT, you both donated to complete payment for this project!!!
I talk about my support for this family all of the time, and I know other's have helped and I've forgotten to mention you. Please remind me...
  
Cheryl, Debra, Kristie, Susan, & Patti at Christina Vicki
Meridian Avenue Baptist Church
Working on "A Soldier's Child"...
 
L.G. Hamilton Mitch Bell
Co-owner of THE Music Group Guitarist
Never before has this happened, but THIS TIME (I was SO excited!!!) my sister, Dana, and my brother, Danny, agreed to come help me out in the studio with their harmonies. I arrived early, then left for a few minutes; when I returned to the studio parking lot, my brother was there; he walked up to me and said, "What am I doing here?" My sister was not any more at ease. But, just as I knew... they did GREAT! They were so relieved after recording their parts, I caught them sitting on the back couch of the studio joking with each other and acting like "Rock Stars!"
   Dana Dan You guessed it... ROCK STARS!
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