This week in HS Sports: Remembering Maxi, the column I never wanted to write

This is an opinion piece.

I told everyone that I would write more about Baby Maxi when we got through her heart surgery and left Children’s Hospital in Birmingham to come home to the Eastern Shore.

I never planned to write this column.

Our granddaughter, Maxine Marie Payne, went to be with Jesus at 8:06 p.m. Sept. 27, 2024. We never expected it. I guess you never do. Doctors had been so confident about Maxi’s surgery and future. We just knew we would eventually be home with sweet Maxi.

And, you know what?

We still will be. It will just be a little more time before the rest of us get there that’s all.

Maxi was with us for 13 beautiful days, all spent in the CVICU at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. She fought hard, enduring two heart surgeries. Her nurses nicknamed her ‘Spicy’ because of the way she battled in the days following her birth on Sept. 14.

But, as hard as it is for our family right now, my message is not one of sorrow. Instead, I would like to share the amazing ways we saw God’s hand throughout Maxi’s short time here. I want to try to encourage you because that is what Maxi did for us, and what so many of you have done for us over these last two weeks, and really the last four months.

Here are a few things I count as “Maxi’s Miracles.”

Our sweet daughter, Alyssa, found her way back to church. It’s something my wife and I have prayed about for a long time. Maxi made it happen. Well, Maxi and the Lord. Alyssa has been a champion through all of this. She will be a great mom again one day. I can’t wait to see it.

Maxi put life into perspective. You know, the important things. I missed two of the last Friday high school football nights and, you know what, it was OK. Our staff handled it while I focused on family. I’m so thankful for them. It made me realize again that, even though we may love high school football or college football or the Atlanta Braves or whatever, life and love are what really matters. I hope I don’t have to be reminded of that too often.

In my heart, I believe Maxi brought thousands across the nation together in prayer. We’ve had incredible support from our family, our friends, our church family, our work families. High school coaches across the state have reached out and have been praying without ceasing. College coaches have said they were praying. High school athletes have sent direct messages. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We can never repay the support, the love, the prayers we’ve received and that were prayed over Baby Maxi. Through Maxi, the Lord brought people who had no contact with each other together to depend on Him. I hope that continues.

There are other, more private miracles we’ve seen that I won’t share. But just know that Maxi’s life on earth, though short, was not without impact. And, if you are reading this column now, you have been a part of it.

It’s been a hard week. We will honor Maxi with a service later today, and that will be incredibly difficult. But Maxi will always be with us and, yes, my faith tells me that we will get to hold her again someday.

In circumstances like these, it’s easy to question God. We’re not perfect. We’ve all done it. Our family has certainly done it this week.

We drove home Friday night/Saturday morning – all in separate cars. I drove in silence for a while, just processing it all and, when I could, looking at all the sweet text messages and tweets about our Baby Maxi. Again, thank you. Even that part is hard, but it’s also so comforting.

When I finally decided I needed some type of music, some type of distraction, on the way back, I punched in my iPhone.

These following lyrics by Mercy Me were among the first I heard.

How fitting.

“They say it only takes a little faith to move a mountain.

Well good thing. A little faith is all I have right now.

But God when you choose to leave mountains unmovable

Give me the strength to be able to sing ‘It is well with my soul.’

I know you’re able, and I know you can

Save through the fire with Your mighty hand.

But even if you don’t

My hope is You alone.”

For whatever reason, this mountain was unmovable. But we still stand on Romans 8:28.

“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

We were blessed with 13 life-changing days with Maxi.

She will always be with us.

Until we see you again, sweet girl ….

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at bthomas@al.com . He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.