She Lived Her Life Well

A young lady by the name of Katie Klinect passed away recently after a tragic bicycle accident. I knew her from our coffee shop where she hung out regularly, blessing everyone with her quick smile and warm words. That she was well-loved in our local community is very obvious. It seems just about everyone and everybody knew her and loved her. (The funeral was beyond standing room only.)

Most striking were the comments I’ve heard about her since her passing like “There’s something compelling about somebody who makes their life count” and “She was the purest person I ever knew” and “She’s lived her 25 years with more fullness and more impact on the people around her than than most people in their 70 plus years.”  Everyone who knew her feels the same way about her.

Katie struggled with a blood disease her entire life that required her to receive regular blood transfusions, yet this struggle never overcame her godly spirit. She not only ministered to and loved others well, but she spent her time serving God, testifying to His greatness, and working to lead others closer to Him.

Another friend informed me that when she was very young, a local pastor prayed over her and asked God to heal her and make her life have an impact for His glory. It is now blatantly obvious that God answered that prayer.

Tragedies such as this are difficult to understand. God doesn’t expect us to ignore our grief. When Jesus saw his friend Lazarus’ grave and the mourners, the Bible says He wept. God understands the pain of the loved ones Katie left behind. He understands that we must wrestle with these things.

Yet, I have to imagine that God simply didn’t want to be apart from His daughter anymore. If imperfect people here on earth love her, then how much more does He? He deemed her job on earth to be complete and called her home. Heaven is a more real and vibrant place than anything we’ve ever experienced. She has to be full of joy now, free from pain, with her Savior, happily waiting for her loved ones to join her someday.

I didn’t know her as well as many, but I did know her smile and her spirit. She lived to make her life count for eternity, and it did.

I will pray for the comfort of her family. But I will also be praying for all those she impacted to imitate her, to make their lives count as well as she.

God bless, Katie.