Janel Mathews

Janel Nicole Mathews made her entrance into this world on September 16th, 1993. She grew into the big sister role quickly when her younger siblings Justin, Joel, Jason, and Janessa who later joined to become, “The Mathews Family.” The early years raced by quickly, but if you could have been a fly on the wall, you would have noticed a little girl with wavy black hair being schooled at home along with her siblings, sometimes reading to them their favorite books. Her days were full of laughter and wonder. We added many pets, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, hamsters… Janel especially loved her pet rats that would snuggle up on her pillow at night, next to her cheek, and fall to sleep. 

At an early age, Janel’s interest and talents blossomed. She became an accomplished pianist, a competitive swimmer, and a beautiful writer. Most notably, Janel looked keenly into the lessons of the Bible and developed a profound relationship Jesus. If you leaf through her Bible, you will see pages filled with notes and highlights, insights into her thoughtfulness and reflection. We share this with you because she would want you to know this relationship was the essence of her life! This is where her ability to persevere through the grueling demands of medical school, residency, and fellowships originated. This was the source of Janel’s positive attitude, exuberance for life, and genuine care for those around her. She lived what she believed. Her faith overflowed into acts of kindness and compassion. For her, medical care did not end at the conclusion of an appointment. One example, was an elderly widowed patient who lived in poverty. After a long exhausting day at the medical clinic, she made a trip to Kroger’s to buy groceries, and travel into a neighborhood that most of us would avoid. Her patient was moved to tears by Janel’s kindness and care. Janel provided her meals, cleaned up her dilapidated kitchen, and provided healing for her soul. She developed a friendship with this frail lady. Janel did not consider this a burden; her action was simply prompted by her overwhelming kindness. And when her patient succumbed to age and illness, we observed her grief for her elderly patient and friend.

We could list for you all the awards Janel garnered and the degrees she held, which are notable for a 30-year-old. (A Master’s Degree, Medical Degree, Family Practice Doctor, Sports Medicine Doctor, and her favorite part of her journey, was her experience becoming a Wilderness Medicine Doctor.) As proud parents, we would tell her “Janel, put all those credentials after your name, you earned them.” She would laugh, and say, “that is not what really matters.” What matters to Janel is reflected in one of her writings.

 “…Life is short… This is both sobering and freeing. Sobering because it causes me to realize the importance of living with significance, freeing because it causes me to let go of the concerns and worries that don’t really matter. Life is not measured by appearance, belongings, or accomplishments. The value of a life is measured by how much of it we give to others. I hope one day to have a similar legacy.” How do we do this? Janel concluded, “…Love God, and Love others.” 

 Yes, Janel’s life was short, agonizingly short, for her family and friends. But her story is not over. Janel invites us, no, rather she implores us, to embrace the only one who can take our brokenness, pain, and despair, and exchange it for true hope and abundant life. She would unequivocally tell you Jesus did this for her. You may ask, “new life?” Yes, she echoes back, New Glorious Life now and forever more. Who would walk away from an invitation like that? Not me, and it’s our family’s hope…Janel’s hope…not you either.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Compassion International, or even sponsoring a child through Compassion International. At one point Janel sponsored 5 children. This trustworthy ministry to children in poverty reflected her heart.

 Colossians 3:1-3

Ephesians 5: 15-17