By Scott Wetzel
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28 (NKJV)
Little Rachel Beckwith decided that she didn’t want presents for her 9th birthday. She had heard about an organization called “charity: water” and wanted to have her friends and relatives donate to that cause instead. Charity: water is a non profit that builds wells for those that don’t have water in the drought stricken countries of Africa. Access to clean water is a huge issue that we all take for granted in this country. In other countries, however, water is scarce and disease is spread through dirty watering holes. Rachel’s goal was to reach $300.
She had raised $220 by July 20th, when the car she was riding in was involved in a 13 car pileup on I-90. The rest of her family escaped with minor injuries but Rachel was critically injured. On July 23rd, her family decided to remove the life support and Rachel passed away. This story could have ended there…but God has bigger plans than anyone could ever imagine. You see, Rachel wanted to do something for the world, not so she looked good, but because she loved God and saw people through His compassionate lens.
That Sunday, the pastor of their church announced that they would reopen her donation page for charity: water. A few thousand dollars were donated. Then the local media picked up on it. Then the national media picked up on it. A little girl’s wish to make $300 to provide clean drinking water for people in Africa has brought in over $1.25 MILLION as of this week. Not only that, but her organs were donated and a man in California has a new lease on life because he received her kidney. He has said that he will continue to take up the cause of charity: water in her memory.
It’s the ripple effect. I’m not saying God took the life of this sweet child. I don’t believe that God kills children to create change. This world, however, is dark and things happen that we can’t explain. Life is filled with changes and tragedies that God didn’t initially intend. The human mistakes caused by a flawed nature created a ripple effect that led to the death of one person in a 13 car pile up. That one person was a 9 year old girl that had a zeal for life and love for people she didn’t even know. Her loss of life will lead to thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people having a chance to live. Her selflessness in life will create an eternal consequence. Her short time on Earth has advanced the kingdom of God immeasurably. We create ripples in everything we do. Those ripples can either end in death or bring life. When we love God, do the will of the Father, and strive to be like Jesus, all things will work for good.
I don’t know about you, but I’m convicted by this.
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