The song "Legacy" was the song Eli's mom sang to honor her son's request during one of their discussions concerning his Celebration of Life day. Then, on October 18th, 2007 that day arrived and there were nearly 2,000 people who gathered to honor Eli's life, with many sharing how his had touched theirs. Then, as Eli's mom was singing her tribute, hundreds stood and began to make their way to an alter where, on bended knee, they received this "Jesus" whom Eli loved and served. Over 150 individuals began or renewed their faith in Jesus Christ that day. I know Eli's soul was filled with JOY as he watched all who made their profession of faith. Knowing, now it would only be a matter of time before he could see them again in heaven. Things do not always happen in the way that we would wish, but, if we trust the Lord with the easy and the difficult strands of life, "He promises to use all of our pain and struggles for his glory and our good. Only the world plans to use them to harm us."
So,as you look for HOPE, FAITH and PERSEVERANCE in your life, just remember to GO TO THE SOURCE of all joy, even in the midst of your struggles. And it's there that you will find that same PEACE THAT PASSED ALL UNDERSTANDING during the last 4.5yrs of Eli's battle against AML Leukemia. God never said that living for HIM would be easy...But, HE promised us that as we follow him, he would be with us every step of the way. And I believe that if Eli could speak to us from heaven right now....he would say, "IT WAS WORTH IT."
The song, "Bless Your Name" was a song that was placed on Eli's mothers heart as an answer to prayer just two months after beginning to experience the Grief from loosing her son. In responding to the request made by her son just 10 days before he passed, Trina accepted an invitation to speak on behalf of The Eli Foundation in an effort to share her son's testimony and vision for helping others. A pastor from a church in their home town of Fenton, MI had called and the event would take place in Jan. 2008. The topic she was asked to speak on was healing. Though Eli's mom struggled with the topic initially, she remembered her promise to her son and God and said, "YES." Trina had promised that if God opened a door that she would walk through it, no questions asked. However, she lacked the words to express feelings on this topic as it seemed to be in conflict with the reality she was living in, without her son. About one month after accepting the invitation, she was with a family at the University of Minnesota, once again staying at the Ronald McDonald House where she had lived with her son during both transplants between 2005 & 2007. It was there that she gained peace, through the lyrics of this song. She was able to about the healing that DID take place in the lives of those in Eli's life as he went through his illness. You see, it is when we begin to praise God IN OUR PAIN, that the chains of despair and mental bondage are loosed. Look at Paul and Silas. "Their chains were loosed and they were free." We can be too!
Click below for a clip of each song
"Legacy"
"I Bless Your Name"