Two weeks after announcing the death of his three year old, Granger Smith and his wife are ready to address the tragedy with their fans.
A video was linked in Granger's return to social media, in which the "Back Road Song" singer noted, "I believe I'm obligated on certain levels to include you guys in my current journey, as I've been involved either personally or musically in yours.
"The finality and mortality brought on by death makes life feel fragile. It can weaken, terrify and separate those close to it. But it can also awaken us. It can remind us never to take a moment with those we love for granted.
"In my house, we have united stronger and closer than we've ever been. We've cried. We've smiled. I've held my family tight. I've found strength from God and used that in the face of adversity so that my wife and children can rely on me. I've guarded my heart and my mind during weak moments and graciously accepted all of the encouragement and empathy from so many. I have realized that I will not slave over a search for answers, but instead for meaning. I will focus and then cultivate the light from a dark place, the good from the bad, God's will from my own plans. I can rest assured knowing that River's assignment on earth was always intended for 1116 days and not only did he live it to the fullest, but he lived it loved by so many, including a mother, father, sister and brother who held nothing back and have no regrets on how much he felt that love. We should all be so blessed to be able to live like Riv."
In the video, the couple shared their grief, but also their gratitude for the Yee Yee Nation, as well as the first responders and hospital staff who treated their son.
They also added that sales from the t-shirt his merch company, Yee Yee Apparel, had made in honor of River, had earned over $100,000 for Dell Children's Medical Center.
"We are going to search for every bit of good we can find in this, the worst situation we've ever been through," promised Granger in the video.
"Love those close to you, soak up those moments, live in the moment, because we're not guaranteed tomorrow," he continued. "What happened to us that night defied all odds. We believe that God gave us River for three years, and that that was his mission."
Granger went on to promise that he'll still do music; in fact, he'll return to touring next week, but he says he'll hold off on meet and greets for a while. "It'll be weird if I have to talk about River, but it'll be more weird to not talk about River," he explained.
The couple closed the video with the exhortation to "Live like Riv," before sharing a tribute of his short, well-lived life.
