TobyMac Releases New Song ’21 Years’ About Son’s Tragic Death And His Heartbreak

Well known Christian music artist, TobyMac has released a new song, ’21 Years’, which is about the loss of his son, Truett Foster McKeehan.

The words of the song reflect a grieving father doing all he can to stand on his faith during a horrible tragedy. It was on October 23, 2019, that he lost his son Truett Foster McKeehan at the age of 21 years. TobyMac, was in Canada performing but returned home immediately on hearing about it.

Truett was already walking on his father’s footsteps to become an artist and had also released songs on his own, having done a few collaborations with his dad. But his sudden death was a shocker to his family and friends.

But as a committed Christian and artist, TobyMac decided to continue praising and glorifying God. “We don’t follow God because we have some sort of under-the-table deal with Him, like, we’ll follow you if you bless us,” said TobyMac of son’s death. “We follow God because we love Him. It’s our honor. He is the God of the hills and the valleys. And He is beautiful above all things.”

Toby was on a break after the tragic death of his son and spent time with his family to process the loss. He has continued to inspire us with his attitude of praise and thanks in times of sorrow and throughout his mourning period and at the funeral for Truett Foster McKeehan.

“Such overwhelming love has surrounded us this last month,” TobyMac wrote on Twitter after burying his son. “We still don’t quite know which end is up but we do KNOW, we are loved. As we mourn our firstborn son, God has poured out His love on us.”

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving we have something we’d like to share… Such overwhelming love has surrounded us this last month. We still don’t quite know which end is up but we do KNOW, we are loved. As we mourn our firstborn son, God has poured out His love on us (cont.) pic.twitter.com/eDxuDCV1AS

— TobyMac (@tobymac) November 24, 2019

He continued, “As we enter this week of Thanksgiving we have something we’d like to share… Such overwhelming love has surrounded us this last month. We still don’t quite know which end is up but we do KNOW, we are loved. As we mourn our firstborn son, God has poured out His love on us (cont.)

Toby has expressed his sorrow and overwhelming love that he and his family received from everyone during their hard times, by composing the song “21 Years” in honor of his first born son, Truett Foster McKeehan.

21 years makes a man full-grown
21 years, what a beautiful loan
21 years, I loved every one
Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful son

He also released a statement of how he is clinging to God’s promises in this time of darkness. “’21 Years’ is a song I wrote about the recent passing of my firstborn son, Truett Foster McKeehan,” wrote TobyMac of his son’s death. “I loved him with all my heart.”

He goes on to add, “Until something in life hits you this hard, you never know how you will handle it. I am thankful that I have been surrounded by love, starting with God’s and extending to community near and far that have walked with us and carried us every day. Writing this song felt like an honest confession of the questions, pain, anger, doubt, mercy and promise that describes the journey I’m probably only beginning. The rest is yet to come. One thing I know is that I am not alone. God didn’t promise us a life of no pain or even tragic death, but He did promise He would never leave us or forsake us. And I’m holding dearly to that promise for my son as well as myself.”

Let’s continue to keep TobyMac and his family in prayers and before God, as they face the darkest times of their lives, but we know that God will help them overcome this tragedy and surround them with His love and comfort.

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