even if

by Matt MooneyApril 17, 2010

Way too long ago, I referenced a post that I was wanting to get around to.  I have received a few inquiries in relation to sharing our story that hover around a particular question that I believe many have when they hear us speak as we do, or write as we do, or live as we do.

Most people tend to dance around the question, thus it stays under the surface- more as a theme than an actual discussion.  However, in an e-mail I received quite a while back, someone was bold enough not to dance, and I really appreciate that:

I do not understand.  How did Eliot’s life actually glorify God?

I don’t know if I am more in love with the bold honesty required to ask me this question or with the actual question itself.  I liked it so much that I even put it out there on the blog, as a question to readers and asked for their take in the comment section.  However, I never made good on my promise to give my side.

My sincere apology to the person who asked.  I cannot find your e-mail, but I intend to keep looking, and, honestly, I don’t need it, as I can recite its words by heart.  Here is my feeble attempt to answer the question that has served as both my wrestling partner and comfort blanket.  In the wrestling, I have tried to kill it- but a good question never goes away, never moves on.  It stays and lingers, showing itself laden with facets you never imagined.  It is a strange but true twist that often the question does more teaching than the answer proffered.

The story of 3 guys with strange names is laid out in Daniel 3- Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego.  The king has built a magnificent statue and tells all the folks that they will be bowing down to his creation when they hear the horn- or else they can prepare to meet his little friend; his little friend is a hot furnace that will burn you alive.  So, but for the three rebellious Jews mentioned above, the king gets a consensus that worshiping a statue beats death by flame.

The three say the following when confronted by the king:
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

We are left to live in the even if.

God did not come through for us.  He did not heal our son or give us a false positive or make him the miracle one that lived a full life with Trisomy 18.  And I plan on being put in my place if I am ever able to ask Him why He did not.

It is my belief that God is nonetheless active and working in our ache- that is why we call if faith.  And where He works, He receives glory.  He shows goodness not only in exchanging valleys for mountaintops, but also by being present in the valley you asked him never to enter.

God is glorified because if what He says is true.
Than Eliot is with Him.
And He is with us.
He has conquered death.
And He will make all things new.

The word redemption holds boundless meaning for us.  Through glimpses in this world and in whole in the one to come, things will be set right by the only one able to do so.  Everything glorifies God.  He sees to it.  Some things merely take a more circuitous route than others.

How does Eliot’s life glorify God?
How could it not?

I propose that the only way it could not would be if there was no God or if my beliefs are merely fantasy.  And we are now back to faith.

To God be the glory.

18 Comments

  1. beck on April 18, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    I love it, Matt. “Even if.”



  2. Chris Milbrandt on April 18, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    just love you guys. right on spot, man. right on!

    a strange connection to a family i may never meet and boy i know glorifies the Lord with my own missing one.

    and a date in common to remind me of the glory that continues and a glimpse into redemption and renewal…Oct. 14th. We are going to attempt to grasp our own glimpse this tuesday as we deliver Cana’s little sister, Elizabeth Hope. Please pray for us. I will be thinking of you guys, no doubt. I wonder…does April 20th hold any special connection for you?



    • Matt on May 2, 2010 at 2:36 pm

      It does now 🙂 How are you guys? So excited and cannot wait for an update!



  3. Elizabeth on April 18, 2010 at 7:01 pm

    Thank you for sharing the question and giving your answer- so very powerful. It seems that life is never easy to understand, and I really needed to think about your answer today, so thanks.



  4. Ashley on April 19, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Eliot’s life was and is glorified by God daily. He gave you/us that time needed, He gave you a perfect son, He gave His all for us. And one day we will have him in our arms again.
    .-= Ashley´s last blog ..Seis episodios de Masters of Horror para el fin de semana =-.



  5. CW on April 19, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    My nephew/Godson was born with Trysomy 18 over 26 years ago and even though he only lived a year he taught our family so much about how to love one another. When I tell people what a blessing he was to they can only see the tragedy but God gave us the grace to see the blessing he brought to our lives each and everyday. Our ways are not God’s ways but sometimes when we are open to His grace we can see God’s glory in all it’s radiant beauty. God bless you and thank you for sharing your story, it has brought back so many memories.



  6. ann on April 19, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    “. . . by being present in the valley you asked him never to enter.”

    Writing that on my mirror today.



  7. Mrs. H on April 19, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    Thank you for sharing with us how you know Eliot’s life to glorify God. I completely agree that it does. If a stranger can be bold enough to offer her opinion, here it is. When I read of the “three guys with strange names” (love it!) I read it this way (I paraphrase) “our God is able to save us and even if you decide not to throw us in the furnace, we will not serve your God or bow before your idol”. They were confident that God COULD save them. If God were NOT to save them from the furnace, of course they wouldn’t serve the King’s god or bow before his idol; they would be dead and burned to ashes. Nebuchadnezzar had been fickle before (Daniel 2) when he ordered all the wise men killed, but when Daniel interpreted his dream, changed his mind and not only spared all the other wise men but put Daniel in a high position of authority. I think the three were familiar with his character.

    I think what Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego were telling the King was, it didn’t matter what he did to them. Even if he decided NOT to send them to their death and there were left in his debt, under his rule as King and among all his followers that WOULD bow down, they would not. No matter what the pressure, no matter what the result, they would undoubtedly and unconditionally server their God.

    As an outsider, I personally see your story this way: God could have called you and Ginny home with Eliot and you wouldn’t have, or have had, any pain. You would be rejoicing in Heaven, alongside Eliot right now. But he left you here, to live this life and to tell Eliot’s story and encourage others by doing so, which in my mind, is far more challenging. I can see clearly that God knew exactly who he was trusting Eliot to, and I know He is glorified when you point back to Him through Eliot’s story. I knew God before I read Eliot’s story, but I know him even more after reading it.



  8. A Must Share « In His Hands on April 20, 2010 at 1:27 am

    […] Read his response here. […]



  9. Clint & Kat Honnoll on April 20, 2010 at 1:51 am

    AMEN!
    HOW COULD IT NOT.



  10. Mommy_of_YaDa on April 20, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    How does Eliot’s life glorify God?
    How could it not?

    Exactly! How could it not? One just has to see “A Night at rEcess” video to know that Eliot’s life and all that came after glorifies God tremendously. Check out TeamWorks and feel the love and see human nature to its fullest. This is what Eliot’s life spurred. Thanks buddy! Eliot, you are and will always be a blessing, even though I never met you.



  11. Leasha on April 20, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    Thanks, I needed that.



  12. Leasha on April 20, 2010 at 9:12 pm

    I will be watching the Today show. I needed to hear some inspiration today, so over to your site! I just returned home from surgery, I lost my right falopian tube and my third child. I have two beautiful children and I realize how much of a miracle they are.
    This is from an earlier post and it really rings true, a lot of what you say resignates.

    Misses his son. ( me my daughter)
    Hates it when you offer a verse and a smile.
    Prideful.

    Blessings to you guys, keep sharing, it is helping all of us out here who need it.

    Thanks,
    Leasha



  13. Donna Woodall on April 22, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    I just learned of your tragedy. Wow.
    This is a good post. One thought I would add. When we read about Job -his trial and suffering- sometimes we forget that we are allowed to see the heavenly action first. He was not; he was totally in the dark about God’s intention and opinion of him. But heaven was active and though it was horrid to endure, God had a perfect plan that would, in the long run, minister to both Job and the ages.
    The life of your son has already counted for much. But the end is not yet.
    Blessings – Donna



  14. Heidi on April 23, 2010 at 1:28 am

    You continue to amaze me. To God be the Glory!



  15. Amber Spencer on April 23, 2010 at 9:49 pm

    That’s Awesome! I love it. So glad I get to be a part of Eliot’s story by being a rEcess family.



    • Matt on April 24, 2010 at 8:45 pm

      Thank you. So are we. Can’t imagine not knowing your beautiful kiddo’s.



Way too long ago, I referenced a post that I was wanting to get around to.  I have received a few inquiries in relation to sharing our story that hover around a particular question that I believe many have when they hear us speak as we do, or write as we do, or live as we do.

Most people tend to dance around the question, thus it stays under the surface- more as a theme than an actual discussion.  However, in an e-mail I received quite a while back, someone was bold enough not to dance, and I really appreciate that:

I do not understand.  How did Eliot’s life actually glorify God?

I don’t know if I am more in love with the bold honesty required to ask me this question or with the actual question itself.  I liked it so much that I even put it out there on the blog, as a question to readers and asked for their take in the comment section.  However, I never made good on my promise to give my side.

My sincere apology to the person who asked.  I cannot find your e-mail, but I intend to keep looking, and, honestly, I don’t need it, as I can recite its words by heart.  Here is my feeble attempt to answer the question that has served as both my wrestling partner and comfort blanket.  In the wrestling, I have tried to kill it- but a good question never goes away, never moves on.  It stays and lingers, showing itself laden with facets you never imagined.  It is a strange but true twist that often the question does more teaching than the answer proffered.

The story of 3 guys with strange names is laid out in Daniel 3- Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego.  The king has built a magnificent statue and tells all the folks that they will be bowing down to his creation when they hear the horn- or else they can prepare to meet his little friend; his little friend is a hot furnace that will burn you alive.  So, but for the three rebellious Jews mentioned above, the king gets a consensus that worshiping a statue beats death by flame.

The three say the following when confronted by the king:
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

We are left to live in the even if.

God did not come through for us.  He did not heal our son or give us a false positive or make him the miracle one that lived a full life with Trisomy 18.  And I plan on being put in my place if I am ever able to ask Him why He did not.

It is my belief that God is nonetheless active and working in our ache- that is why we call if faith.  And where He works, He receives glory.  He shows goodness not only in exchanging valleys for mountaintops, but also by being present in the valley you asked him never to enter.

God is glorified because if what He says is true.
Than Eliot is with Him.
And He is with us.
He has conquered death.
And He will make all things new.

The word redemption holds boundless meaning for us.  Through glimpses in this world and in whole in the one to come, things will be set right by the only one able to do so.  Everything glorifies God.  He sees to it.  Some things merely take a more circuitous route than others.

How does Eliot’s life glorify God?
How could it not?

I propose that the only way it could not would be if there was no God or if my beliefs are merely fantasy.  And we are now back to faith.

To God be the glory.

18 Comments

  1. beck on April 18, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    I love it, Matt. “Even if.”



  2. Chris Milbrandt on April 18, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    just love you guys. right on spot, man. right on!

    a strange connection to a family i may never meet and boy i know glorifies the Lord with my own missing one.

    and a date in common to remind me of the glory that continues and a glimpse into redemption and renewal…Oct. 14th. We are going to attempt to grasp our own glimpse this tuesday as we deliver Cana’s little sister, Elizabeth Hope. Please pray for us. I will be thinking of you guys, no doubt. I wonder…does April 20th hold any special connection for you?



    • Matt on May 2, 2010 at 2:36 pm

      It does now 🙂 How are you guys? So excited and cannot wait for an update!



  3. Elizabeth on April 18, 2010 at 7:01 pm

    Thank you for sharing the question and giving your answer- so very powerful. It seems that life is never easy to understand, and I really needed to think about your answer today, so thanks.



  4. Ashley on April 19, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Eliot’s life was and is glorified by God daily. He gave you/us that time needed, He gave you a perfect son, He gave His all for us. And one day we will have him in our arms again.
    .-= Ashley´s last blog ..Seis episodios de Masters of Horror para el fin de semana =-.



  5. CW on April 19, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    My nephew/Godson was born with Trysomy 18 over 26 years ago and even though he only lived a year he taught our family so much about how to love one another. When I tell people what a blessing he was to they can only see the tragedy but God gave us the grace to see the blessing he brought to our lives each and everyday. Our ways are not God’s ways but sometimes when we are open to His grace we can see God’s glory in all it’s radiant beauty. God bless you and thank you for sharing your story, it has brought back so many memories.



  6. ann on April 19, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    “. . . by being present in the valley you asked him never to enter.”

    Writing that on my mirror today.



  7. Mrs. H on April 19, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    Thank you for sharing with us how you know Eliot’s life to glorify God. I completely agree that it does. If a stranger can be bold enough to offer her opinion, here it is. When I read of the “three guys with strange names” (love it!) I read it this way (I paraphrase) “our God is able to save us and even if you decide not to throw us in the furnace, we will not serve your God or bow before your idol”. They were confident that God COULD save them. If God were NOT to save them from the furnace, of course they wouldn’t serve the King’s god or bow before his idol; they would be dead and burned to ashes. Nebuchadnezzar had been fickle before (Daniel 2) when he ordered all the wise men killed, but when Daniel interpreted his dream, changed his mind and not only spared all the other wise men but put Daniel in a high position of authority. I think the three were familiar with his character.

    I think what Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego were telling the King was, it didn’t matter what he did to them. Even if he decided NOT to send them to their death and there were left in his debt, under his rule as King and among all his followers that WOULD bow down, they would not. No matter what the pressure, no matter what the result, they would undoubtedly and unconditionally server their God.

    As an outsider, I personally see your story this way: God could have called you and Ginny home with Eliot and you wouldn’t have, or have had, any pain. You would be rejoicing in Heaven, alongside Eliot right now. But he left you here, to live this life and to tell Eliot’s story and encourage others by doing so, which in my mind, is far more challenging. I can see clearly that God knew exactly who he was trusting Eliot to, and I know He is glorified when you point back to Him through Eliot’s story. I knew God before I read Eliot’s story, but I know him even more after reading it.



  8. A Must Share « In His Hands on April 20, 2010 at 1:27 am

    […] Read his response here. […]



  9. Clint & Kat Honnoll on April 20, 2010 at 1:51 am

    AMEN!
    HOW COULD IT NOT.



  10. Mommy_of_YaDa on April 20, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    How does Eliot’s life glorify God?
    How could it not?

    Exactly! How could it not? One just has to see “A Night at rEcess” video to know that Eliot’s life and all that came after glorifies God tremendously. Check out TeamWorks and feel the love and see human nature to its fullest. This is what Eliot’s life spurred. Thanks buddy! Eliot, you are and will always be a blessing, even though I never met you.



  11. Leasha on April 20, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    Thanks, I needed that.



  12. Leasha on April 20, 2010 at 9:12 pm

    I will be watching the Today show. I needed to hear some inspiration today, so over to your site! I just returned home from surgery, I lost my right falopian tube and my third child. I have two beautiful children and I realize how much of a miracle they are.
    This is from an earlier post and it really rings true, a lot of what you say resignates.

    Misses his son. ( me my daughter)
    Hates it when you offer a verse and a smile.
    Prideful.

    Blessings to you guys, keep sharing, it is helping all of us out here who need it.

    Thanks,
    Leasha



  13. Donna Woodall on April 22, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    I just learned of your tragedy. Wow.
    This is a good post. One thought I would add. When we read about Job -his trial and suffering- sometimes we forget that we are allowed to see the heavenly action first. He was not; he was totally in the dark about God’s intention and opinion of him. But heaven was active and though it was horrid to endure, God had a perfect plan that would, in the long run, minister to both Job and the ages.
    The life of your son has already counted for much. But the end is not yet.
    Blessings – Donna



  14. Heidi on April 23, 2010 at 1:28 am

    You continue to amaze me. To God be the Glory!



  15. Amber Spencer on April 23, 2010 at 9:49 pm

    That’s Awesome! I love it. So glad I get to be a part of Eliot’s story by being a rEcess family.



    • Matt on April 24, 2010 at 8:45 pm

      Thank you. So are we. Can’t imagine not knowing your beautiful kiddo’s.