Saddleback Church Pastor Kay Warren Writes Heartbreaking Letter to Late Son: 'Happy Birthday in Heaven'

Leah Marieann Klett : Jul 20, 2017
Gospel Herald

"I have a certain hope that God will make all things right and He will rebuild the ruins of our lives. I'm absolutely certain that I will join Matthew in Heaven because Jesus is alive. I'm gonna live. Those are things that are absolutely certain. I don't have any doubt over them. And so my hope is stronger than it ever has been." -Kay Warren.

[Gospel Herald] Kay Warren, wife of Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren, has written a heartbreaking letter to their late son Matthew in honor of his birthday, telling him "I can't wait to hug you tightly and kiss your face again." (Photo: Kay and Rick Warren/Facebook/via Gospel Herald)

"Happy Birthday in Heaven, Matthew," Kay wrote in a July 18 Facebook post. "I wish I was making you biscuits and gravy for birthday breakfast like I did on your 8th birthday or organizing your birthday party with friends later in the day."

Instead, Kay said, she "watched a butterfly merrily fluttering around your headstone at the cemetery, played your favorite Five Iron Frenzy album on my phone and reminisced with Daddy about the day you were born."

Kay admitted that she and her husband, author of The "Purpose Driven Life", "have conflicting memories" of Matthew's birth.

"He says I was delirious and therefore not a reliable witness—all I know is I was SO happy to welcome you to our family," she said. "For the next 27 years you made us laugh, you made us cry."

"Today we're cheering each other up with Matthew stories, sayings and songs—who could forget your classic song 'I'm naked under my clothes?'" she said. "Oh, Buddy ... your mama is missing you! I can't wait to hug you tightly and kiss your face again. Yet ... celebrating with you the life that is truly life. I love you. Mom." (Photo: Matthew Warren/Courtesy Saddleback Valley Community Church/via Gospel Herald)

Matthew Warren struggled with mental illness, deep depression and suicidal thoughts throughout his life. Over the years, he had been treated by America's best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others, his father said.

Sadly, the young man died at the age of 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 5, 2013...

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