“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  Luke 12:48

Becky’s life ended suddenly.  She didn’t have time to set her house in order or to say good-bye or to make sure that those closest to her clearly heard her last words of love. Becky and Jake lived their lives deliberately – together processing decisions that impacted their family. Until the last year of Becky’s life, Becky and Jacob very intentionally worked out their lives so that one of them was always with their girls.  They didn’t hire babysitters even when both were working.  Instead they scheduled their jobs so that they were the primary caretakers for Amity and Dara.  Only in the last year did that value shift as Becky began clinical rotations in the final months of Pharmacy school.  There was simply no way for Becky or Jacob to always be with the girls. At times Becky agonized over missing her girls – hanging on to the knowledge that in a year she would graduate and the nearly 24/7 intensity of classes and studying would likely diminish into the routine of a full time job.  I say ‘likely’ because Becky was also considering one more year of study and had applied for a residency in one of the Spokane hospitals.  If she was accepted into that residency it would mean one more year of long hours and immersion in study, but the in-patient hospital setting would also allow Becky to more fully utilize her God given intellect, compassion, and gifts.

Becky’s life was rich and full.  She was given much – incredible intelligence, a deep well of love, a wonderful husband and family, and more energy than I can fathom.  She loved the Lord and together Becky and Jacob thought through decisions within a framework of family and stewardship.  I find myself wondering if any of those decisions would have changed if the variable of Becky’s sudden death could have been added into the decision matrix.  It is a nonsense question since there is no way to go back.  And it is nonsense because I know Becky and Jacob made their decisions based upon their lives of following Jesus.  But it does make me pause as I consider my own decisions.  I have also been given much – in fact I’ve been given the kingdom!  Even without the specter of an untimely death my life will be short – every life is short.  I want to live out the hours of each day that I’m given in a way that regards the incredible gift of life in Jesus.  Life, family, intellect, heart, the very hours of each day, influence, love, joy, grief – all of it a gift from the hand of the Father into my life.  Lord – your blessings are rich and sweet and form the substance of my life.  Help me to live aware of the flow of blessing into my life.  Make me an unblocked branch through whom this blessing life flows to others.  Guide your life through me at every decision point – even those daily decisions that are so natural that I’m unaware of deciding. Glorify yourself in and through me.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5