Sat Jul 04 2009
By LISA NICELY
PAULDING -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Those words from Philippians 4:13, Psalm 121, are helping give strength to a community and family mourning the death of Zachary Arend. Arend died March 9, a week after the fatal Bluffton University bus crash that claimed the lives of six others.
Zachary Arend's name as well as "Philippians 4:13" are now inscribed on purple bracelets which were worn by family members and members of the Bluffton University baseball team to honor Arend.
The idea for the bracelets came from Paulding native Brenda Clark. Her family wore bands to support a family friend who had cancer. She said after the fatal bus crash she realized bands could be made to support Arend, his family and team. She received the Arend family approval to make the bracelets and the family chose the verse.
Philippians 4:13 was on an item a softball team sent to Arend when he was in Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
"At the time we thought the verse was for Zach," said Clark. The bands were ordered prior to his death. "But now, I think it was Zach's verse to give to his mom and dad and family and friends. God could see the whole picture before we could. They need the strength now."
Clark has received so many calls for the bracelets from community members that she placed another order. Bracelets from the first order were taken to the funeral home on Thursday for Arend's family and teammates to wear and remember.
"Their whole purpose is remembrance. Remember to pray, pray for Zach and his family," said Clark. "The color of the band is purple, which is the Bluffton baseball team color. It reminds us to pray for the team and everyone else involved -- the team members who lost their lives and the bus driver and his wife."
Clark said the band's purple color is also a reminder of the Lent season and Arend's faith.
"Zach knew Jesus and he's in heaven now," she said. "I think that's a big reminder. The bands are circular shape, too, and a circle means forever. Zach will be remembered forever."
When the next batch of bracelets comes in they will be available at the Paulding County Carnegie Library and its Oakwood branch library. Some students at Paulding High School will also be selling the bracelets.
They will be on sale for $2.
"We're really just selling them for cost of the bands," said Clark. "This is more of a spiritual prayer bracelet. That is what it is. Any funds that are left from it will go to the family. This is just all about Zach."
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