January 6th, 2025
by Morgan Bunker
by Morgan Bunker
Alex Batdorff's Celebration of Life
Despite the unexpected power outage that prevented us from livestreaming Alex's celebration of life, the essence of this remarkable event radiated through every heart present. The ceremony was a vibrant tapestry of love and remembrance, adorned with guests clad in pink and wearing sunglasses—a joyful nod to Alex’s spirited personality and her favorite color. The room overflowed with the warmth of nurses, aides, teachers, and cherished friends, each of whom played a significant role in shaping Alex's beautiful journey filled with unconditional love. Though words may fail to encapsulate the profound emotions shared that day, we invite you to reflect on the heartfelt remarks delivered by Rev. Woodrow Wells and Alex's father, Bret Batdorff, as well as the cherished memories we hold dear. Let these tokens serve as a reminder of the love that enveloped us, celebrating a life that truly inspired us all.
Rev. Woodrow Wells' Remarks
Why are you here this afternoon? Is it because you want to shore up your faith? Is it because you want to heighten your hope? Or is it because you love Bret and Stefanie, John and Reagan and of course Alex herself. The Apostle Paul was correct; “Faith, hope and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”
Someone has observed that the word love is a verb; it’s actionable, it demands a response. The family did just that. They cared for Alex, fed her, bathed her, dressed her. All the while they whispered sweet nothings in her hearing-impaired ears and prayerfully interceded for her with sighs too deep for words. Non-verbal words can say even more than verbal ones do. You know them, a caress, a cuddle, a kiss, lots and lots of kisses-they speak volumes.
Since Alex could not verbalize, I often wondered just what she knew. This is not science. It is faith, hope, and love. Though I’ll never know for certain, I am confident Alex knew above all else that she was loved.
Not unlike when a salesperson asks “Sir, just what is it you’re looking for?” Answers the customer “I don’t know, but I’ll know it when I see it.” Alex knew she was loved. She saw it all around her…24/7.
I am constrained to address some theological stinking thinking. When bad things happen, terrible things, and they happen to innocent children, like Alex, we are horrified. Hell-bent to blame somebody, we make God the person of interest. He is a friend! Is that so? Does not his son Jesus say “Let the children come to me.” Revelation reveals there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more death; Alex is also promised a new resurrection body, perfect in every way. Now Alex really is in the pink!
It was I who baptized Alex. But first, some background. Customarily I would meet with the parents to get better acquainted and to study together the baptism liturgy. Bret and Stefanie entered carrying Alex and the room glowed with their pride and joy. Ceremoniously they showed her to me, boldly noting the marks of genetic/chromosomal anomalies, including her bonus fingers and toes. To my dismay and delight, there was no anxiety on their part, no misgivings about tomorrow; they knew who holds tomorrow! The medical community told them that at best Alex would live no more than a couple of years. FYI: The family celebrated 22 years of birthdays! How? That one’s easy. She was loved unconditionally, and she knew it, I tell you! She knew it!
Back to the baptism. Bret and Stefanie answered the questions, rededicating themselves to faithful, Christian parenting. I knew they took it seriously, because by any standard they were already doing so.
Friends, Satan is the fiend. His subterfuge cursed not only Adam and Eve, but all creation as well. John tells us that God isn’t merely loving; God is love. Ponder that! The celebrated 13th chapter of I Corinthians, known as THE love chapter- includes these words: “Now we see through a glass darkly (a smudged, chipped, possibly broken mirror). Then we shall see him face to face” just as he is… pure unadulterated love. Oh, to see what Alex sees even now!
In the beloved Christmas Carol. “Joy to the World”. The third stanza challenges us this way:
No more let sin and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He (our Savior) comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found (Joy to the world indeed!)
Poet Christina Rosetti captures what we all too often miss in the yuletide maelstrom:
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine.
Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign.
With all the above in mind, may I say simply/soberly, “Merry Christmas.”
“Faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”
And all God’s people said, “Amen!”
Someone has observed that the word love is a verb; it’s actionable, it demands a response. The family did just that. They cared for Alex, fed her, bathed her, dressed her. All the while they whispered sweet nothings in her hearing-impaired ears and prayerfully interceded for her with sighs too deep for words. Non-verbal words can say even more than verbal ones do. You know them, a caress, a cuddle, a kiss, lots and lots of kisses-they speak volumes.
Since Alex could not verbalize, I often wondered just what she knew. This is not science. It is faith, hope, and love. Though I’ll never know for certain, I am confident Alex knew above all else that she was loved.
Not unlike when a salesperson asks “Sir, just what is it you’re looking for?” Answers the customer “I don’t know, but I’ll know it when I see it.” Alex knew she was loved. She saw it all around her…24/7.
I am constrained to address some theological stinking thinking. When bad things happen, terrible things, and they happen to innocent children, like Alex, we are horrified. Hell-bent to blame somebody, we make God the person of interest. He is a friend! Is that so? Does not his son Jesus say “Let the children come to me.” Revelation reveals there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more death; Alex is also promised a new resurrection body, perfect in every way. Now Alex really is in the pink!
It was I who baptized Alex. But first, some background. Customarily I would meet with the parents to get better acquainted and to study together the baptism liturgy. Bret and Stefanie entered carrying Alex and the room glowed with their pride and joy. Ceremoniously they showed her to me, boldly noting the marks of genetic/chromosomal anomalies, including her bonus fingers and toes. To my dismay and delight, there was no anxiety on their part, no misgivings about tomorrow; they knew who holds tomorrow! The medical community told them that at best Alex would live no more than a couple of years. FYI: The family celebrated 22 years of birthdays! How? That one’s easy. She was loved unconditionally, and she knew it, I tell you! She knew it!
Back to the baptism. Bret and Stefanie answered the questions, rededicating themselves to faithful, Christian parenting. I knew they took it seriously, because by any standard they were already doing so.
Friends, Satan is the fiend. His subterfuge cursed not only Adam and Eve, but all creation as well. John tells us that God isn’t merely loving; God is love. Ponder that! The celebrated 13th chapter of I Corinthians, known as THE love chapter- includes these words: “Now we see through a glass darkly (a smudged, chipped, possibly broken mirror). Then we shall see him face to face” just as he is… pure unadulterated love. Oh, to see what Alex sees even now!
In the beloved Christmas Carol. “Joy to the World”. The third stanza challenges us this way:
No more let sin and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He (our Savior) comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found (Joy to the world indeed!)
Poet Christina Rosetti captures what we all too often miss in the yuletide maelstrom:
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine.
Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign.
With all the above in mind, may I say simply/soberly, “Merry Christmas.”
“Faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”
And all God’s people said, “Amen!”
Bret Batdorff's Comments and Alex Batdorff Slideshow
Morgan Bunker
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