Kim Beathard

What do you most look forward to being absent in Heaven? I asked this question to my church last Sunday. A lady who was sitting right here said ‘separation’. I knew what she meant. She was talking about the same thing I was thinking. Death. Jesus alone is the Lord over death. It knows Him as its Lord and submits to Him alone. So I have had to learn to look to Him right now. To take my eyes off the chaos and trouble and sorrow of this world and place them on HIM.

Luke 10:38–42 ESV

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

One who did what needed to be done, one who stopped and gave to the Lord what she could. Kim was just the right mix of the two.

You are here because Kim made a difference in your life. Some of you are here because she was Miss Kim. And she made a difference in in you. Here’s what I want you and all these people to know:

She loved you fiercely. If anyone messed with you she took it personally. If you were the one messing with one of hers, she would cut you.

She loved to pick on you. If she could find your weakness, it was over for you. We hadn't been sharing an office very long when she found out my weakness was pickles. Not a love for them, but a severe disdain for them. I don't know how many times something pickle themed, flavored or scented found its way to my desk. Right after I moved to Elkhart to pastor, she sent me a squishy, stress ball pickle thing.

She ‘momma’-ed you. She was one of those rare individuals who could give love and never run out. She always looked out for you.

And most of all, she expected great things of you.

Here is what I know is true of the afterlife. All those things? She still does! I know she does because, now, she’s more like Jesus than she ever was when she was with us.

She has now stood before her Maker. She has looked at the glory and beauty of heaven. She has given her worship to the King. If there was one thing she could tell you after seeing all that, I think it would be “its worth it. Putting your faith and trust in Jesus is worth it”. Can I pray for you about that?