I was honored to be asked by Ethan to say something at Noah's funeral. It would have been easy to pass up this opportunity, but this was an opportunity to share your faith and belief in a Good God. Ethan asked me to post them, but I will post them here for now, not to take over the comments he and Julie posted on the
noahblog.
Words from Unlce Steve for Noah Allen Whaley’s Funeral: May 14, 2005
[ Added at time of talk: As I am sitting here thinking about Noah, I forget the 4 pages I’ve prepared, and was thinking about this… Most of you out here have never met Noah face to face… yet you love him dearly. Does that remind you of another man? ]
Weblog details.
[So, I’m sure you are thinking, what in the world is a ‘blog’?? Well, you see, it’s an online log so its called a “web log” but if you say it real fast, all you really hear is ‘blog’. So now you know… what a blog is.]
So here we are, trying to decide what to say today, not even 2 weeks after my nephew was born, our dearest Noah Whaley. Who would have thought, this little fella would have impacted me in such a way as he did. As I’m sure you could say the same thing. I must say it has been a long long long week, and I bet it seems even longer for Julie and Ethan. There have been lots of stressful moments, hopeful moments, fearful moments, anxiety, worry, unknown, different … these are just some words that sort of describe the past week. Ethan asked me if I would like to say something, and I said yes… of course that was before I sat down to try to write it down. So lets start with a story that comes out of Acts 20.
You see, Paul was preaching one night in someones house. And in the house, was a young boy named Eutychus. He decided to sit in the window upstairs to get some air, as he listened to the “sermon”. Well, while Paul went on and on and on, the boy became tired, and fell asleep. And when he fell asleep he fell out of the window. So my comment before we get started is, someone better get Eutychus out of the window, because this may be a long one.
As some or most of you know, I have some good friends going through a similar situation with their newborn in NewYork, born April 21. Baby Ira has also been in the NICU since that time. During my visit with the Hays family, and seeing the pain and uncertainty within the ICU’s, it hit me that they were very fortunate to have such a loving family and even greater still, a loving church family that was running to the aide of the hurting. It was evident to me how wonderful it is to have caring friends and family around you during this time.
Little did I know.
Some 2 weeks later, I was called Monday night on my way to bible study that my sister was going to the hospital. In the span of 24hrs, our lives had gone from “normal births of children, to the uncertainty of a babies life.” Lots of questions arise from this situation. I’m sure many of you have dealt with these same questions in your own lives in other experiences, or have just be pained in the Whaley’s situation so much, that the questions arise.
But one I’m sure we’ve either heard or even spat out on our own was …. Why?
Why did this happen?
Over the last week, there has been some sort of unknown peace in my heart and spirit, that can only be described as faith, and it also gives a clear picture of what the verse means “a peace that passes understanding”. Because at times, I didn’t know what time it was, what day it was, where my kids were, what time we were eating, who called me at work, where did I park, no I’m not fixing your computer . … but one thing I did know, and that was Jesus Christ.
You see its that relationship in my life, that gives me strength. I do not know how He works. I do not know His plan, but I do know God’s plan is better than my plan, his will is not my will. Through the years, I have learned this lesson the hard way, thinking my way was better. But I think this time, I decided early on, that God had a plan. God was in control. Like God has always been in control, like God will always be in control. This was one of those moments where we are instructed and sing to just “cast your burden, unto Jesus, for he cares for you.” Give it to him.
Let me share with you what I told my 4 yr old daughter the other day. It was suggested to us during this time of Noah being in the hospital, that we tell our children that Jesus is holding baby Noah, and taking care of him while his mommy can’t. Because children know who Jesus is, they associate him with power and love. And knowing Jesus is there taking care of Noah, will help them in this time. So after Noah had been called him by the Angels of the Lord to be with Jesus, it was obvious to me that we as adults need this reflection as well. We need to know Jesus is taking care of Noah now in heaven, just as he was taking care of Noah at the hospital, just as He is with us today… .taking care of us. You see Jesus has been in our situation many times. And one imparticular time we find in the book of John. As I told Blakely, its ok for us to be sad in losing a dear baby. Its even ok for us to cry. Why, because Jesus cried. And if Jesus can cry, and show his love to the family, then maybe that’s good. Listen to it now:
John 11:33-35
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35Jesus wept.
36Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
A good friend of mine, Tony Slate, has always said “its all spiritual”. And let me say to you today, those of you out here doubting your faith. Those of us out here, being refined by the fire today. Those of us who are just trying to make this one day at a time…. Its all spiritual. The Devil is real. He tried to destroy our savior and Friend, and he will try to destroy us. Something my wife told me earlier this week, that has stuck with me is “we cannot let satan destroy us.” During this time of trials and unknown outcomes, we cannot let satan destroy us. Its all spiritual. Satan would love nothing more than for this situation to make you stop going to church. For you to decide this is the last straw, I have given God too many chances to show me what I want to see, and this does it. Satan would love for you to cut off any ties you may have to your family, and just give up on God. But please recognize this as an attack from the Evil One, not from our Father in Heaven.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, and in the name and blood of Jesus Christ, I give praises to the Lord for the work He has done and is doing through the life of Noah Allen Whaley. Someone who said nothing, has spoken so much to our hearts. As Julie has posted on the blog, he has brought people to their knees, he has helped us open up communications with our Lord again. I have not spent this much time, as Paul suggests we do, in “continual prayer.” So in this struggle, and time of trial, remain faithful to Jesus Christ. It is ok to mourn, it is ok to grieve, it is ok to ask why, and I think its ok to even cry. Because we are missing a piece of our hearts right now we set aside for this precious child … but the heart and soul of Noah Whaley is alive and well in the arms of Jesus Christ.
So we ask why? And here are my answers:
I believe in a Good God. A God who keeps his promise, and has shown me his love. A God who sent his Son to die for me, a sinner, a lepor, desteable before men, but someone Christ loves to touch and most of all, hug. God has remained faithful to his children, and to me, and I know today, in this place right now, God is faithful to his children. Just as he was to the woman at the well. Just as he was to the prisoner on the cross. Just as he was to his followers. In a sense, we can put ourselves in the situation of those apostles. Who have been following this man around for years, listening to his teachings, trying to decipher his stories, going about healing in His name, watching miracles being performed, walking on the water, almost sinking their boats with a ton of fish (that weren’t there on the previous cast), hearing of how he spent 40 days of vacation in the desert, and watching him gather the little children and loving them. Oh man… Jesus Loves the little children. Can we now see that picture more clearly.
But Jesus is also there for us even in our times of “little faith”.
Matt. 14 tells us the story of Peter climbing out of the boat, walking on water, to meet Jesus. And as he gets closer and closer, the waves and wind seem to come more into the picture. As Peter looks down, his focus is taken off of Jesus, and he begins to sink into the waves around him. And as he begins to sink, he cries out
“Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand
and caught him. “you of little faith, he said, why did you doubt.”
Do we serve a God who lets us fall into the winds of life, and sink before He catches us? Does he hear our plea for help? LORD SAVE ME!!! We cry out, knowing full well our eyes are not focused on Christ. Yet, even in our “little faith” he reaches out and catches us. And we worship his Name.
And in Mark 4, we see the story of Jesus and his buddies out on a night fishing trip. (Paraphrased of course). When a “furious squall came up and broke over the boat.” They were terrified, this was not supposed to be part of the trip across the waters. If we had known this storm or squall was coming, surely they would have waited, or maybe taken a bigger boat. So they go to him again, Teacher, we’re going to drown, don’t you care?
Lord, I feel like I’m drowning, don’t you care. Teacher, I cant take this anymore, where are you? Are you not going to do something? Are you going to wait till someone dies? How can you sleep during this? Do you not know we need you?
So he gets up. And this is what I find remarkable, He doesn’t get up and rebuke his friends and children, He rebukes the creation. Jesus rebukes the wind and saying “QUIET, be still”. Jesus calms our storm. A great and majestic God, and Savior. He loves and cares for us. He is there with us today, yesterday and tomorrow. He will not rebuke you for asking for help. He will not jump up and say “you do it”. He will not leave us alone. He will not forget us. He is sailing right with us through this storm.
Oh me of little faith. This is the faith I have come to have peace in this last week. Sometimes it takes a few times to learn what in the world Jesus is talking about. Sometimes, like this week, I wish I didn’t have to learn how Jesus works in our storms. But Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so, little to ones to HIM BELONG, we are weak, but He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves, the Bible tells me so.
Steve Eller
