13 years ago today Elisha Alexander Reimer was born to us in Anchorage, Alaska. How time flies!
Thinking back over Eli’s life we can see not only the impact he has had on our lives but also on the lives of others. From day one, seeing the nurses in NICU tend to him and us in unique ways, was humbling. Then to be embraced by our entire village community in Alaska was amazing. There have been many “standing stones” in his life where look back and see monuments of grace from our sovereign God displayed through his life.
One of Eli’s earliest friendships was with an elderly man from the church we attended in San Diego, Mr. Dave Rottenberg. Each Sunday after church Eli would waddle his way through the people and find Mr. Dave outside and sit down with him and “talk”. Eli new more sign language than he did spoken words then but Mr. Dave didn’t care he just enjoyed the light in Eli’s eyes and the melodic chatter Eli would offer up. Each Sunday Mr. Dave brought Eli those little “Smarties” candies and they would “talk” as Eli devoured them.
There is an interesting dynamic to this friendship between Mr. Dave and Eli. Dave grew up in Holland during WWII where his father was a Dutch Reformed pastor who was taken prisoner 6 months into the war and later died in a nazi death camp. At the age of 15 Dave was working with the Dutch underground. He was faced with many unusual trials as a teenager where his very facial expression while passing SS officers in the street determined life or death for him. What a contrast in teenage years between my son and his friend Dave.
Yet I reminded that the though nazi extermination machine has long since ceased due, in part to the indomitable courage of friends like Dave, there is still a pervasive culture of death in our country that would eliminate children like my son. With the prenatal diagnosis tools being used extensively in North America, around 90% of babies with prenatal diagnosis’ of Down Syndrome are being killed. The killing of what is essentially an entire civilization.
I can’t imagine my life without Elisha. His unconditional love is inspiring, his smile is contagious, his struggles bring me growth, his victories bring me elation, his love for Jesus is simple and precious. Why would we want children and adults like him eliminated from our lives, from our churches, from our society?!
The battle against this culture is one with few allies to be sure, but there is one that trumps all others – JESUS. Jesus spent much of His time on this earth with the disabled and infermed loving them and making them examples of His grace in the this fallen world. Do we approach those with disabilities in the same fashion? Do we shy from the controversial subjects in eugenics, abortion and the like? We should embrace these challenges head on and fully engaged with the Gospel of Christ. We need to faithfully proclaim the Gospel and engage in Gospel conversation those who oppose Him, those who advance ideologies of death, those who would eliminate ones we love. We need to do this with grace and love, but with the certainty of the brevity of our own lives – don’t neglect so great a salvation!
Mr. Dave was inspiration to us in our early parenting of a child with special needs. Our son had found his first friend in the least likely of peoples, but they shared so much that neither you nor I can really understand – an oddly common experience in life bonded by a Sovereign Providence. As I sit here I can picture Eli searching the crowd for Mr. Dave then finding him and moving as quickly as his barely-walking legs could carry him over to him. I see them sitting on a little flower bed wall, Eli just 3 years old and Mr. Dave silvery-white hair in his late seventies…they both have a gleam in their eyes and wide smiles on their faces. I am fond of those memories and the sweetness of the love they shared. Thank you Mr. Dave for being Eli’s first friend and for what you taught us who faithfully observed a friendship mostly without words but full of grace.
So my family and I will glory in Christ today at the celebration of another year of life granted my son, Elisha. Eli, we love you and thank Jesus for you every day!
From your father’s heart,
Dad
Thank you Justin! for so many things, tears are streaming down my face as I realize how blessed sweet Eli is and what a blessing he is to so many. You and Tams have been a great inspiration to so man and I am so thankful for all you gus do. Thanks for being Eli’s daddy!
Love you all!
We love you Elisha! Happy birthday from the Lucas Tribe.
Beautifully written, Justin! I am totally crying right now! What a wonderful love you and Tamara display for the world. I pray that He increases and expands your ministry so that you can reach even more who need to hear about and see the loving grace that God gives to ALL people.
We love you guys~
Holly and Mark
Happy Birthday, Dear Elisha!!
We love you so very much and are so excited to celebrate today as the special day you were born! You are our gift from God!!
Love and hugs!!!
Uncle Kent and Aunt Amanda
Like others, I have tears running down my face, I remember well the day Eli was born, Mom & Dad and Jesse’s were living on 36th street, Mom called me at work and told me Eli had been born and that he may have Downs Syndrome, I left work and went to Mom & Dads house, we were happy for you and also concerned for Eli. Through the years, though miles seperate us it has been a delight to be around you all, and Eli, with his special hugs and tender smile, he is such a joy to our family, you, we are truly blessed to have such a special fellar! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELI!!!
Beautiful. Happy Birthday, Eli!
Happy Birthday ……I remember so well when you were born~ We were so excited and you were so sweet and precious! I see that you are still being the blessing you were when you were first brought out to Port Alsworth! Maybe one day I will get to see you again. I loved holding you when you first came home to Port Alsworth…..I hope you have the most wonderful Birthday….God bless and much love to you and your family…..
Jane Graham
Thank you Justin. How wonderful to be able to express your heart so eloquently. I remember seeing the relationship of Eli & Dave, how they enjoyed each other. You are right it would be difficult not to love Eli, who loves so readily. Eli you are an exceptional grandson (SPECIAL!!!). We love you very much!!! I can’t believe you are 13! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
LOVE,
G’pa & G’ma
I still remember when you called Danny and I to tell us that he was born! In some ways it seems like yesterday. We love you all and even though we don’t get to see eachother very often…we count ourselves very blessed to have friends like you in our lives.
Happy Birthday weekend Eli!
Much Love,
The Woods
I remember many fun adventures with you as a family of three and us before we had children! I’m so glad for the little bit of time we got to know Elisha as a baby and for reconnecting with you guys last spring. We love you and pray for God’s continued blessing on your family.
I can’t believe it was 10 years ago when we were going to the CRC in San Diego with you all! Happy (late) birthday, Eli!
I just enjoyed watching the video you posted. It is encouraging to see you making much of God and His grace and glory.
I don’t know if you guys know how much of an impact you had on Jon and me. We were still in college and dating when we hung out in SD – we still speak highly of you guys.
You were a beautiful example of a Christ-following family to us. I think it was you guys who (probably unknowingly) made us think we could go ahead and marry and have kids at an age where many people thought we were too young (and crazy). : )
Are you still homeschooling your kids? I have thought of you tons in the last month as I am now homeschooling Lily (first grade).
I can’t wait to show Jon your video and blog when he gets home from work tonight!
[...] birthday. In that post I shared about Eli’s first friend, Mr. Dave. You can read that post here. Just last month while in San Diego we were able to go spend the afternoon with Mr. Dave and his [...]
Thanks for sharing your love for Eli, your lessons from Mr. Dave and your encouragement to make this issue an unavoidable one in our culture. We are all the beneficiaries of your thoughtful and beautiful words.