Former country singer turned pastor, Granger Smith, had an encounter recently with the first emergency responder to arrive at his home the day his son River drowned in the family pool.
While eating tacos at Chipotle with his three-year-old son Maverick over the weekend, Granger noticed a couple of deputy sheriffs sitting a few tables over from him.
"Maverick was watching them," said Granger. "And then all of a sudden, Maverick gets up and goes over to their table and says 'You got a police car?' And I'm thinking, man this kid's got nerves of steel."
The conversation continued between Maverick and the police officer for a few more minutes before the officer got up and walked over to Granger.
"He put out his hand and said 'It's been a while, sir.' It didn't click for me," said Granger. "I asked him where we met, which would be a normal conversation if somebody came up and said they saw me in a concert eight years ago, or something, but this was different."
The officer responded, saying he was the first person on scene 'that day.'
"I instantly knew he was talking about June 4, 2019. The River Day," said Granger. "I said, I have, for a long time, wanted to talk to the officers on the scene that day."
River Smith, the youngest of Granger Smith's three children at the time, passed away at the age of three after an incident at the family's home.
Granger asked the officer if he would join him for coffee one day and gave him his number. The officer immediately texted him letting Granger know he could reach out any time.
This inspired Granger to invite the officer to church on Sunday. The officer agreed and asked if he could bring another officer who was on the scene that day and did CPR on River.
"I'm thinking this is a great opportunity to meet these guys. To thank them. To hug them, tell them I love them and hear their story."
Both men showed up with their wives. They also brought along a third officer who was at the scene the day of the tragic incident.
"After I preached, I talked with them," said Granger. "One of them asked to talk privately. He opened his heart about things he's struggled with that since that day and I was able to walk through that with him."
Granger says he hopes this is just the beginning of something new. He hopes that the men and their wives will become members of his church so that he can see them every Sunday.
"Only the Lord could redeem something so crazy and bring together four men through Maverick. This feels bigger than all of us. What an incredible snapshot of who our God is. A redeeming God. A god who gathers."