Christian rapper TobyMac released the new song ’21 Years’ dedicated to his late son, Truett Foster McKeehan.  Truett died unexpectedly last October.

TobyMac, whose full name is Toby McKeehan, wrote the song as a reflection on his son’s passing. The title signifies the number of years he had with his son. Truett was only 21 years old when he died at the family’s Nashville home; the cause of death has not been released.

TobyMac released a statement about the song on Twitter explaining how he is still processing the untimely death.

“’21 Years’ is a song I wrote about the recent passing of my firstborn son, Truett Foster McKeehan,” the Christian artist said in his statement. ” I loved him with all my heart. Until something in life hits you this hard you never know how you will handle it.”

The song is autobiographical and deeply moving. Evoking the imagery of the biblical story of the prodigal son, the lyrics ask the hard questions many wonder when faced with the loss of loved ones. For TobyMac, the writing process proved cathartic.

“Writing this song felt like an honest confession of the questions, pain, anger, doubt, mercy and promise that describes the journey I’m probably beginning. The rest is yet to come,” he shared.

The CCM artist was on tour in Canada when he learned of his son’s passing. He rushed home to be with his family to both receive and give support. In the days following the tragedy, he has also surrounded himself with a strong community of love, for which he remains grateful.

“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,” TobyMac said.

Despite the tremendous loss he has experienced and the uncertainty of the future, the Dove-award winning artist finds comfort in knowing that he is not alone.

“One thing I know is that I am not alone,” explained TobyMac. “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.”

 

(Photo: screengrab)