Skyler, a seventh grader who was evacuated from Camp Mystic on July 4 during the Texas Hill Country flooding, shares her message of hope and healing through a song she wrote to the tune of “Hallelujah.” Her mom Lacey said, "I must have sat there for two days straight listening to it. It just helped me kind of work through things and to process things. And I think it did the same for her."
Listen to Skyler's song here: https://youtube.com/shorts/lDIHZ9Ig1PE?feature=shared
What began as a lighthearted car ride after a trip to the pharmacy became the spark for a viral moment of hope and healing.
“We were in my mom’s car and my little brother started singing Christmas songs, even though it wasn’t Christmas,” Skyler said with a laugh. “He ended up singing ‘Hallelujah,’ and when we got home I couldn’t get it out of my head. I just started writing down what happened at camp, and it turned into a song.”
What began as a poem — with help and edits from her mother, Lacey — became a heartfelt reimagining of “Hallelujah.” Lacey shared it in a group chat with other parents and grandparents of girls who had attended Camp Mystic, and within days, several national news outlets had picked up the story and the video had gone viral.
“I was very, very proud of her,” Lacey said. “We had encouraged her to journal her feelings, but when I saw what she wrote, I knew she was working through her emotions in a beautiful way.”
The song has not only helped Skyler and Lacey process the trauma of the flood but has also resonated with families across the country. Some reached out to share how the song reignited their faith.
“One mom told me, ‘I lost my hallelujah, but your daughter gave it back to me,’” Lacey said, adding that while the storm in the lyrics was literal for their family, it could also symbolize any storm in life.
Faith and camp community were central to Skyler’s story even before the disaster. She has attended Camp Mystic since she was 9, returning each summer for fellowship and a faith-building environment.
“It just grows my faith and helps me so much,” she said.
As Skyler was being evacuated, she remembers the profound impact music had on her.
“What really comforted me was being with my friends,” she said. “We were singing and trying to focus on the bright side, even when everything was scary.”
The unexpected reach of her song led to invitations she never imagined, including a trip to New York to appear on national television and meet Christian music artist Lauren Daigle. The experience has inspired her to continue pursuing songwriting.
“I’d definitely like to keep writing and maybe even release albums someday,” she said.
Her message to others after feeling God's hand of protection: “Keep your trust in Jesus, even through hard times,” Skyler said. “Lay all your problems at his feet, and he will take care of them.”
For Lacey, her daughter’s response to tragedy reflects a larger truth.
“Sometimes in grief, you see the most beautiful side of humanity,” she said. “And that’s what we’ve witnessed — faith, community and God’s love in the middle of the storm.”
Watch Skyler meet Christian music artist Lauren Daigle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftT0-Ljni1c