Matthew Russell - A Little Boy with Big Faith

Last summer I had the privilege of helping facilitate a grief support group. Each person’s story deeply touched my heart and helped me write Comfort & Encouragement: A One-Year Ministry Guide for Helping Those Who Are Hurting. Thank you again to each of you who were a part of that group. 

There’s an amazing little boy I’ve thought of almost every day since the group ended, and I’d like to introduce you to him today. His name is Matthew Russell. I didn’t get to meet Matt in person because he went to heaven last November after a car accident. But I feel like I’ve had the blessing of getting to know him through his wonderful parents, Dana and Greg. They shared his remarkable story with me and I’m so honored they’re letting me share it with you. I know you’ll be blessed and inspired by Matt the way I have been.

   

Matt was born October 23, 1997. He shared his birthday with his twin sister and best friend, Katelyn. During his short time on earth, Matt was an active member of his church, an outstanding student, and an athlete with a “winning attitude” and “coachable spirit.” Matt was dearly loved by his family and known as a “loyal and faithful friend” to his classmates and many others in the community.

Matt became a Christian at age seven and had a deep faith. This became especially evident when his parents looked at a spelling test Matt took during his last day on earth. Matt’s parents wrote on the back of the program for his service…

On the very day Matthew died, he took a spelling test at school. The 20 words on the test all contain ‘ea’ sounds. At the bottom of their papers, the students were instructed to write a sentence using as many of the spelling words as possible. Matthew’s sentence is a gift from God that assures us that Matthew is where his heart longed to be.

A few hours after he wrote this sentence, Matt was home with his Heavenly Father. The teacher said she had never asked students to write a sentence on their papers before but felt prompted to do so that day. With those few words, Matt left a legacy of faith that brings hope to the hearts of all who knew him…and many more who are looking forward to meeting him one day.

The evening Matt died, his grandmother gave Dana the book “90 Minutes in Heaven.” It was sitting by the phone when she received the call about her son. While nothing can take away the hurt they feel, the Russells find comfort in these small reminders of God’s presence even in the midst of tragedy.

Matt spent ten years on this earth. He loved, laughed, and lived to the fullest. He brought incredible joy to his friends and family. He made a difference in the world. Matthew Russell’s life is an inspiration and reminder to us all that it’s not about counting our days but about making each day—and every word—count.

Dana and Greg graciously gave me permission to share Matt’s story and they’ll be reading this page. If you’d like to leave a comment for them you can do so below. I’d also love for you share this page with your friends and family by using the "Send to a friend' link above so many more people can honor Matt’s memory and be touched by this little boy with big faith.

Comments

[Elsa Colopy]

Dana and Greg,

Your story brings tears to my eyes. I can't imagine the depth of loss you feel. I'm so sorry.

And yet such an incredible gift to know that God so tenderly paved the way, so you would know exactly where Matthew is . . .

Thank you for allowing Holly to share your story. What a incredible testimony!

Warmly,

Elsa Colopy

[Laura]

Dana and Greg,
I am so sorry for your loss. I cannot fathom how you feel. Matthew's testimony is truly amazing. I pray that my children will love the Lord and long to be with Him, and what a precious gift - to know that your Matthew is right where he wanted to be.
-Laura Merriman

Psalm 139

[Beth West]

Dana & Greg-
Thank you so much for allowing Holley to share your incredible story with all of us. Matthew is truly an inspiration.

[Kirk Robbins]

As I sat through church a couple weeks ago we were challenged to look at our lives and determine what our "idols" were. I have 2 children and the Lord quickly put on my heart that i idolized my oldest daughter.

Reading Matthew's words really drove home the fact that there is a much better place awaiting my daughter, and I should open my heart and trust the Lord with my daughter's life.

I can only hope & pray that when my daughter is at your son's age she will long to be in that better place.

Thank you for sharing, what a testimony.

[Amy Glover]

Russell Family,
What an inspiring story. I praise God that He used you to share this with so many and to remind us that it's His glory and purpose that we all live for. We are simply stewards when it comes to our children and we have to practice, what I've heard called at Fellowship, "surrender parenting". Based on this story, it's obvious that you were obedient and faithful stewards of your time with Matthew. May God bless you and Katelyn as He uses you for His glory. Thank you for sharing.

[Heather Steck]

Dana and Greg,

I have a little boy and cannot imagine losing him. I am so deeply sorry for your loss. I'm so thankful for the gift of assurance and comfort God brought you through Matthew's spelling sentence in the midst of such great pain. Thank you for allowing Holley to share your story.

With love, Heather

[Jenny Beth Walker]

Dana and Greg,

Thank you for allowing Holley to share your son's story. What a standard he has set for all of us. That God would give such a little boy such a big heart for Him. I am changed by his story and am reminded of what my focus should be- heaven. I am confident that when God greeted your son He said, "Well done, my good an faithful servant"

Thanks for blessing me with his story. I know it does take away the loss or hurt you feel. I am so sorry for the heart ache you have experienced.

Prayers and thankfulness, Jenny Beth Walker

[David Stay]

Dana and Greg,

I am so so sorry for your loss, and so encouraged by your son's story.

I also have son, and his name too is Matthew, and as others have said, it's come to my attention only recently that he may be somewhat of an idol for me. You know, that question, "In comparison to what would you count your life as nothing?"

Anyway, I'm encouraged by your son that our God really is a sovereign God. That He gives and takes away. I'm also encouraged as the spiritual leader in our home. Your Matthew's story is evidence of a lasting legacy. For His glory.

Thank you for your courage, for sharing with Holley, and for giving us the opportunity to know your son and his story. It's helping me focus on Him. And that's probably the greatest gift I can give my son.

I pray there's healing in each and every word.

Love, joy, and peace.

David Stay

[Vicki Kramer]

Dear Russell Family,

May the good Lord continue to comfort you and heal your broken hearts. May He carry you each day with all the strength and peace that you need to remember the good times and look forward to the reunion in Heaven. In Jesus' name, this is my prayer for you.

Thank you for sharing Matthew's story through Holly. Thank you for "training your child in the way he should go" just as the Bible teaches us to. You gave him the best gift a parent could ever give, the knowledge of the Saviour and setting his eyes upon the Lord and Heaven.

Praise the Lord that Matthew was saved! My daughter, Jodi, was recently saved and baptized. She's 5 and what a blessing it is to know that she's ready to meet her Heavenly Father, too. I'm looking forward to my son, Jeremy, age 3, to accept Jesus into his heart. I'm sure it won't be long.

And, I'm sure it won't be long before the trump of God sounds and we can all be together in Heaven with the Lord and each other!

God bless you!

Vicki Kramer

[Amber Stickerod]

May there be peace in the valley for you - God Bless You

[Jesse]

Greg & Dana,

Thank you for allowing God to do great things through your son and his story. Your strength and courage is inspirational. I'll forever remember Matt's encouraging story and I know that thousands of people will be impacted in a positive way through him.

God has brought such influence through such a young man... I thank Him for that.

Thank You for allowing Holley to share this story.

Jesse

[Osipowicz Eva]

Dear Parents,

So great and encouraging that when people put their trust in the Lord, then He really takes care of them-right now of you-just by your son leaving that little note on the test... isn't is so God how He works? So amazing, preparing everything beforehand for those who love Him! Everything on earth is for his glory, we must realize that, the center is Christ, not us...

thank you for sharing- fellow christian from Hungary

[Jason Companion]

Dear Russell Family,

This is another testimony of how God turned tragedy into triumph. My deepest symphony goes out to your family. I pray everyday to be that inspirational and God fearing man for my beautiful 12 year old daughter that God has blessed me with just as you both were with your wonderful son Matt. I have never met your awesome son here on earth but your story has given me more spiritual strength to continue to live my life in obedient with God’s standards and ways so that I will be able to meet Matt in person in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Thank you again for sharing and God Bless,
Your Brother in Christ- Jason

[Amy Ballinger]

Greg & Dana,

I am so sorry for the loss of your precious son, Matthew. It was very giving of you to share Matthew's story with the rest of us. I know you couldn't have prepared yourself for the loss you've experienced, but God in His blessed ways, gave you that last sentence that Matthew wrote to help comfort you. You obviously raised Matthew in church and he had God's arms waiting for him...I can't imagine your sorrow, but I've known God's Grace and it is sufficient for all.

Prayers to you, your family and everyone who Matthew reached with his faith,

Amy Ballinger
Waddy, KY

[Lydia Flores]

Dana & Greg,

My heartfelt thanks for sharing your son Matthew's story with me. It really touched my heart and although my own children are in their 30's, they will always be my "kids" and precious to me. Our children are not our own, but God's, and Matthew is home already. God bless your family with continued peace, love and wisdom.

[Taunya Robertson]

I know that your Matt has found a friend in heaven. On February 17, 2007, my daughter Reegan went home to her Heavenly Father after suffering fatal injuries in a car accident. She celebrated her golden birthday just eight days earlier.

When Reegan was 7, she stayed late after Good News Bible Club one day, and she accepted Christ as her savior--officially--she was a little faith firecracker long before that. Two days before Reegan met Jesus, she was at her Good News Club, just as she always was. Her instructor and several kids shared a story with me that is so much like Matthew's. She was very agitated and excited, and when her teacher finally got her to settle down, her excitement bubbled over with the following question: "Shirley, I just have to know what heaven is like, so I'll know what to expect when I get there!" That story gives me so much comfort and hope! I know Reegan believed with every fiber of her being where she would be someday, and I wonder if God didn't prepare her for the trip.

Bless you and your family, continue to take faith in the Lord and His ways. They are a mystery to us, but He holds us in His hands always.

Taunya Robertson, Reegan's mom

[Mendy Clark (Matt's Aunt and Dana's sister)]

Holley,

Thank you for ministering to Dana, Greg and Katelyn through your grief ministry and this website. The comments posted on your blog minister to our broken hearts. The tragic loss of Matthew has been indescribable- the pain and hurt at times, unbearable. The Lord is near! We are crying to the Lord in our distress - He is sending His Word to heal us (Ps. 107:19-20). He is also sending people like you! I pray the Lord will bless you as you have blessed us. Aunt Mendy

[Lucy Seay]

I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. I am so sorry that you have had to experience this pain in your lives. May God continue to give you the grace and strength you need to get through each day without Matt here on earth. What a gift from God to have Matt's precious testimony to keep with you always, even as you daily adjust to not having him with you right now. He is obviously an amazing little boy. Thank you for letting his story be told....

[Vicky Miller]

Dear Ones,

I thank God for the grace that he gives to us each day. If not for that grace we cannot face the hurt and sense of loss when we lose a loved one. We have lost some of our closest of family members and I share that sense of loss with you. My prayers are with you and we send you our love. I thank you for sharing the wonderful message of the promise of heaven from your precious son. We will all see our beloved family members and friends who have gone before us on that great day. Hugs and blessings, Vicky Miller Ephesians 3:14-20

[Barbara Kascht]

Dear Greg & Dana,

Thank you so much for sharing your story, it touched my heart! I'm a single mom with a daughter who just turned 10 and has a personality a lot like Matt's. She's far away from me right now, vacationing with her grandparents in Hawaii but I can't imagine her being gone forever! Our God is an AWESOME God and I pray that He will heal your hearts and be with you always (I know He will!)

In Christ's Love,
Barbara

[Kimberly T. Barton]

What a handsome little boy who had the heart and spirit of a mature Christian. It appears as if The Lord grew Matthew up fast in his faith and love for Him. It is amazing how nothing is a coincidence. This strengthens my faith in knowing that everything in our lives is about God's glory. God even prepared Matthew (and his loved ones) for joining Jesus in heaven as evidenced by the sentence on his spelling test. May God continue to provide you His comfort and peace while you grieve over and miss Matthew.

Love & Blessings,

Kimberly T. Barton

[Grace Sutherland]

Dana and Greg,

What comfort to see the providence of God preparing Matt and you for his joyful entry into heaven - his spelling test sentence and the book from his grandmother for you!
I'm thankful for your faith. I pray for continued comfort, and for strength and peace for you.
I'll always remember the evening when my brother was taken home, 6/28/68, 40 years ago. My mother and father had pangs of grief until their earthly deaths. Now, they are all joyously living their eternal lives in heaven!

[ruth]

Thank you for sharing your dear Matthew with us through your story. What pure faith and deep wisdom he has! I can't wait to meet him some day in heaven...

[Angela Johnson]

Wow, What a powerful and faithful message. What a joyful little boy Matthew served to be! Glory to God! This message inspired me to take firmer steps to instill God's message, his love, and faith in my young children, ages 7 and 5. Now my 7 year old son is reluctant about church where I hope he'll learn about God. Somehow I am reluctant about this particular church too. Now I will work a bit harder to either reintroduce this church or find one we can all enjoy... Angela

[Joan Eberhardt]

A year ago today, my world changed

A year ago today. my life changed.
A year ago today, I began seeing life differently.
A year ago today I became more tolerant in many respects.
A year ago today, I became less tolerant in many other respects.
A year ago today, I stopped crying at sappy shows.
A year ago today, I started crying myself to sleep.
A year ago today, food stopped tasting the same.
A year ago today, I stopped caring what people thought.
A year ago today, I became more withdrawn.
A year ago today, I began taking long walks in the woods.
A year ago today, I stopped enjoying my job.
A year ago today, I stopped cooking.
A year ago today, I started buying store bought mashed potatoes.
A year ago today, I stopped doing yard work.
A year ago today, I stopped doing housework.
A year ago today, I began asking for strength everyday.
A year ago today, I began staring out my window for long periods of time.
A year ago today, I began making contact with old friends.
A year ago today, I began to understand what it means to lose of child.
A year ago today, I stopped hugging my son.
A year ago today, I started hugging a beautiful wooden box almost daily.
A year ago today, my life as I knew it, ended.
A year ago today, the world became a different place.
A year ago today, my son stopped saying, “I love you Mom.”
A year ago today, my son stopped helping me with dinner.
A year ago today, my son stopped shopping with me.
A year ago today, my son stopped working with me.
A year ago today, my son stopped having birthdays.
A year ago today, my daughter lost her brother and best friend.
A year ago today, I lost my beautiful son, Michael.
A year ago today, I began to learn to live in a world without my son.
A year ago today, my world changed.

25 September 2008
Joan Eberhardt

My son was 19 when he died. That last thing he said to me was "I love you Mom" and the last thing I said to him was, "I love you too honey." I am comforted that those were the last words he heard from his Mom and Dad. He was an adorable person, both inside and out and we miss him terribly. It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year without him. We created a website of his art if anyone is interested mikesdoodles.net. All profits from the sale of his stuff goes to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. He suffered with Crohn's the last 5 years of his life. At least he isn't suffering any more. The ones left behind are the ones that are suffering. My heart goes out to the Russell Family. At least I know what they are going through. Best wishes,
Joan