Rebecca Erin Gardner went home to be with the Lord, crossing over into Glory
on October 13, 2016, after a long battle against cancer.
She is the youngest daughter of Jon and Jackie Gardner, the little sister of her seven siblings,
this beloved child was just ten years old.
There is no explanation, no rationale for why things like this happen.
Her death is by no means pointless;
In her brief life she touched more people than many touch in their lifetimes.
Sometimes it takes death to jar us back to life.
but what is unseen is eternal.”
2Corinthians 4:17-18
The gift of life-both in this world, and what awaits us in Heaven as “believers” – can become under appreciated and distant;
then suddenly a treasured one passes and we are faced with the reality that we are not in control.
Suddenly even a candle becomes blazingly bright against a stark background.
This is what Jesus Himself came for-that by His death and resurrection we could know -and enjoy real life:
“No one takes it (Life) away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the authority to lay it down,
and I have the authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father.”
John 10:18
I believe that Rebecca has preceded us, as a forerunner making the way clear for us.
From the gateway of Heaven she beckons, calling to us to seek real life-
to love the Lord God, to love one another, and the necessity of receiving the Ransom He paid for each of us.
Reminding us to place the highest value on relationships,
and make much of time that would otherwise wastefully slip through our fingers,
and as in the words of country singer Tim McGraw, “to live like we are dying”.
One day each of us will make the same journey as Rebecca, and I know with certainty that she’ll be right there,
part of the welcoming committee, applauding as we cross over as we hear the words of our Father saying:
“Well done good and faithful servant.”