Claire Atkins was an 8 year old who lived her life to the fullest. She shared her love of life and Jesus with everyone she came into contact with. She was a dear friend of ours, and her beautiful, smiling face will be missed dearly, but now she is in heaven with Jesus.
The following is the message I shared with the children at her Celebration of Life.
We read in God’s Word that “Jesus called a child unto Himself.” Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. And He loves Claire. I can imagine Jesus holding Claire in His arms and smiling down into her beautiful eyes.
The Velveteen Rabbit is a story of a stuffed rabbit who wants to know what it means to be real. I would like to share a part of the story with you today.
“’What is REAL?’ asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day. ‘Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick out handle?’
‘Real isn’t how you are made,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘It’s a thing that happens to you. When someone loves you for a long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.’
‘Does it hurt?’ asked the rabbit.
‘Sometimes,’ said the horse, for he was always truthful. ‘When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.’
‘Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,’ he asked, ‘or bit by bit?’
‘It doesn’t happen all at once,’ said the horse. ‘You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.’”
Like the Velveteen Rabbit, our Claire is REAL. And her love for life, her family, her friends, and her Lord Jesus makes all of us feel REAL, too. We feel REAL because of the love we have shared with Claire over the past 8 years, and we will feel real as we continue to love her with our memories.
Sometimes being Real hurts, and it is ok to love with tears. Jesus cried at the loss of his friend Lazarus. It is ok to shed tears. Tears are natural. Tears are a sign of love. Tears are a sign of strength and healing. One day the God who sees each tear that falls will wipe every tear away. Our Heavenly Father blesses us with beautiful memories of the times we shared with Claire and her family.
Perhaps the greatest part of being REAL is the fact that we will see Claire again in heaven. We know that she is in heaven with her Heavenly Father. We know that she is singing His praises and clogging her little heart out. I can see her doing her famous cartwheel during her freestyle part of the routine. And it is all for His glory.
Claire is alive and alert in heaven in the presence of God. Heaven is a Real place of perfection, joy, safety, and love.
But we aren’t in heaven yet. We hurt. We have questions, but we also have a promise from Jesus. He prays in John 17:24, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory.” One day Jesus will gather all his followers to himself, and there will be a huge party and reunion. And Claire will be there to welcome us, too. Jesus is the way to heaven: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Those who believe Jesus died for their sins on the cross, and rose again, go to heaven when they leave this place.
Will we know Claire when we get to heaven? Yes. The scripture indicates that people recognize each other. And besides, who wouldn’t recognize Claire’s eternally smiling face bouncing through heaven with clogging shoes and her Gimme 5 shirt?
God has used Claire to plant seeds here on earth. Some seeds were eternal through her faith in Jesus and telling her friends about HIM. Others were physical in that she was able to give life to other children through her body. God uses us all because HE IS REAL.
14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
Who Will Be the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
47Jesus took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48Then he said, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."
To help us today,
Jesus has taken Claire in His arms, and the kingdom of heaven belongs to her.
Our heavenly Father has truly blessed our lives and made it so much brighter by allowing us to share our lives with Claire.
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3 comments:
What a great analogy Mr Bill!!! I know God was honored by your message and we will keep praying that Claire's short life will bring more children unto Him. Blessings to you as you continue to serve Him diligently!!
To GOd be all glory for the great things He has done, is doing, and will do through you all!
Keri and Mike Franz
Bill- so beautiful and touching. We are praying for this family-
Hey Bill,
Just visiting your blog for the first time. It's really great! I know that speaking at Claire's service was probably one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult thing, you've ever had to do. God did a phenomenal job through you. I know all of our kids who knew Claire will continue to face moments when they have questions or their emotions get the best of them. I'll try to bring Cole and Eli back to the things that you said on that day. Thanks!
Kim
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