Family Matters- ‘ I Believe Matt’s Life Is Going to Be Used in a Big Way’

It was a beautiful Saturday in June, 2009, and we were anxiously attending our first public outing since “that day.” We had just returned from a respite away with close family and friends, which gave us the opportunity to process our pain and define it into a bigger vision of God’s purpose.
Just a few months earlier, I had contacted family and declined two previously accepted wedding invites. I didn’t have the emotional strength to maintain a happy face.
And I didn’t want to be the white elephant in the room, as I knew caring family would have felt the need to offer a consoling word, and tears were a mere scratch beneath the surface. So my husband and I decided we would forego all invites until we felt ready.
But now that day had arrived, and while tentative, we were ready to try. After mustering a strong demeanor, we entered the restaurant. A mother of one of my children’s friends discreetly approached me.
She had her own personal problems made public years earlier. She quietly said, “You know in life there are special people who are chosen to make a difference with their pain—whether through their own doing or someone else’s doing. Your son is one of those people.
There are tons of people—even here—that will drink and drive. I believe Matt’s life is going to be used in a big way. Your family is strong, your faith is strong, your son is strong. You are all going to be OK.” Her words breathed new hope into me and lifted my spirits. I was glad we went to the party.
As I think back to my feelings from last year and see all the work God has done in our lives, it overwhelms me with awe, amazement, and thanksgiving. The process of letting God take control of all our aspirations and our failures, our strengths and our weaknesses, with the understanding that His plans are better than ours is exactly where He wants us.
It was just a few months ago that I first launched the web page www.themattmaherstory.com. Our goal was simply to have a place to share the journals Matt was mailing home from prison to keep students, family, and friends updated on his situation.
The many students who had heard the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance program “I’m That Guy” were contacting us and expressing an interest in continuing to follow Matt’s story, even after his sentencing date. We thought a blog-like set-up would be a great way to share Matt’s “updates” with anyone who wanted to know. Well, we are simply blown away at what has happened with this blog. God has done so much more than we ever anticipated.
We are fast approaching 19,000 hits on the web site, and a large majority of those are coming from new visitors. This tells us that many have taken the time out of their busy lives to reach out and spread this story. The letters we are receiving have been incredibly uplifting and encouraging. We are blessed beyond measure to contemplate how God has taken Matt’s terrible, irresponsible choice and used it to reach out to people from all walks of life—such a myriad of backgrounds, faiths, and experiences.
Students, teachers, professionals, prisoners and their family members, pastors, athletes, children, ex-convicts, and people from every state and 64 other countries have been following both Matt and the Kap family on this journey.
Due to the web site, we have been contacted by a production company doing work for A&E regarding using a portion of Matt’s story in an upcoming documentary.
Additionally, I have been asked to host an online radio show called, “That Guy’s Mom,” which will focus on ministering the message of hope and encouragement to people in all types of dire situations. You can listen at www.FreshStartBroadcasting.com.
We have been willing since the beginning to go wherever the Lord leads us as a family. Although we don’t know what the future holds, we know that He who holds the future has a purpose for our lives. We are humbled daily by His forgiveness, grace, and the fact that it is in His nature to take our failures and use them for His glory.