Family Clings To Faith After Stray Bullet Kills Mother Reading Bible To Daughter
November 03, 2021
In Illinois, a stray bullet kills a mother named Melanie Yates as she's reading the Bible to her baby girl. And in the wake of this terrible tragedy, her grieving family clings to their faith in Jesus, knowing they will see Melanie again in Heaven.
Melanie Yates and her husband, Daniel, were putting their two daughters to bed when the unimaginable happened.
RELATED: Woman Opens Up About Losing Husband Days After Their Son Is Born
Daniel was in one room, tucking in their 2-year-old, Evelyn. Meanwhile, Melanie was in the other room with their 7-month-old daughter, Lydia.
As the 23-year-old mother was reading the Bible to her baby girl, a stray bullet fired from the street killed her. And though police don't believe Melanie Yates to be the intended target, tragically she became the victim.
Stray Bullet Kills Young Mother In Freak Accident
Daniel Yates initially mistook the sound of gunshots for fireworks. However, when he went to look for Melanie, he found she'd been shot in the head.
Though paramedics raced Melanie Yates to the hospital, she died the next day. And it left her family completely heartbroken.
RELATED: Bullet Shot Thru Mom and Hit Baby In Womb, Then Family Gets a Miracle
A stray bullet killing a mother reading the Bible is the kind of freak accident where you can't help but ask, "why?" Of course, we'll never fully understand tragedies like these on this side of Heaven.
That's why faith is so important. And it's the promise of the Good News that's helping Melanie Yates' loved ones see them through such a dark time.
"We have the hope and the assurance that she is in heaven right now with Jesus and one day we will see her again," said her mother, Lam Calderon. "That's what we're holding onto."
A Foundation Of Faith
Faith is something that runs deep in Melanie's family. In fact, when she died, Melanie was reading the Bible to her daughter just as her parents did for her.
“We raised our children that way,” Melanie's mom, Lam, said. She went on to explain, “We read to them while they were in the womb. We knew they would have eternal salvation if they believed in Jesus.”
RELATED: Proud Mom Of Quadruplets Unexpectedly Passes Away And Her Faith Inspires Family To Hold On
Melanie married her husband, Daniel, at the age of 18 after a beautiful courtship that seems rare these days. Daniel asked Melanie's father for permission to date her and abided by the rules outlined by her parents.
“He asked, ‘What are your rules?’ I said, ‘Don’t be alone together,” her father, Shawn Calderon, explained. “They began courting. They would text us from the road, and when they were at the theater.”
Melanie and Daniel married a year later.
Support For Family After Stray Bullet Killed Mom
The couple dreamed of having a big family -- a dream cut short after the stray bullet killed the young mom.
"She wanted a large family and she only has two girls," Lam said. "She wanted five to seven kids."
As Melanie's grieving family works to move forward, the community is rallying behind them. A fundraiser to help support the husband and two children Melanie Yates left behind has already exceeded the goal of $100,000.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Stray Bullet Was Headed Straight For A 9-Year-Old But The Boy’s Crucifix Saved Him
And while it's impossible to make sense of such a terrible tragedy, the family finds comfort in the fact that Melanie Yates died knowing Who her Lord and Savior is.
"Everybody who knew Lanie knows she loved Jesus Christ with every fiber of her being," wrote her brother. "There is no doubt whatsoever that she is in heaven at this very moment."
WATCH: Stray Bullet Kills Mother Reading Bible To Her Daughter
LISTEN: Mark Wahlberg Called His Mom Every Morning But Now She’s Gone | Atlanta Police Officer Spots A Barefoot Homeless Man And Has No Idea Cameras Are Rolling
h/t: Christian Headlines
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/ABC 7 Chicago
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.