Choices
Last night was a BIG night in our house! With what seemed like a rather mundane day, preparing for Scout's ear surgery this morning and dragging Faith Clare out of harm's way in the Target parking lot, I wasn't expecting such a joyous night.
No one announced a pregnancy. It was much more important than that. No one came home with a perfect report card, more important than that by 100 miles. We didn't celebrate an engagement or a wedding or a birthday... we celebrated a decision.
We celebrated with tears and hugs and laughter... with ice cream and phone calls and a simple bracelet.
Deacon made a decision that will change his life forever. More important than any school, or job, or girlfriend, or financial decision... As a 5-year-old boy, on the cusp of turning 6, Deacon prayed last night for the Lord to forgive him of his sins. He admitted he does wrong, spoke of his belief that Christ died on the cross for him, and invited him to live in his heart and be Lord of his life.
Deacon accepted Christ!!!!
It was with tears that I sat with him and his daddy as he prayed. I know that he has never believed anything other than that Jesus has always been with him, loving him, carrying him... so it was funny when really all he wanted to know was when he would get baptized. When he asked that question repeatedly, we kept redirecting him, trying to focus on the importance of Jesus and not just the outward symbol of baptism. It wasn't until I put him to bed last night that I fully understood. He simply told me that he's always believed that Jesus is God's Son, sent here to earth to take our place. "It's not really THAT big of a deal. I asked Jesus in my heart a long time ago," he said. *Me, beaming*
A boy beyond his years. Truly embracing the gospel, without all the fluff or minutiae to debate, and taking God at His Word- He loves us enough to send His Son to die for us. That he understands. A son, a brother... dying. The talk of heaven, of longing, of what it means to have eternal life- none of that needs to be explained because in his short years, he's lived it. And he LOVES THE LORD not in spite of it, but because of it. Doesn't personal experience have so much to do with the choices we each make? Experience dictates our behavior, our thoughts, and ultimately our actions. And I love the choice our oldest child made last night.
Praise you God for using life experience to allow Deacon to know you more intimately. Despite the questions and fear, the child-like faith You speak of has been displayed right before my eyes. Thank you Jesus, for allowing me to get a up-close glimpse of you through the innocence and belief of a child. We praise you and celebrate like there is no tomorrow!... And we know there was a big celebration in Heaven last night... Maddox was one of the happiest of all.
"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."- Romans 5:20-21
No one announced a pregnancy. It was much more important than that. No one came home with a perfect report card, more important than that by 100 miles. We didn't celebrate an engagement or a wedding or a birthday... we celebrated a decision.
We celebrated with tears and hugs and laughter... with ice cream and phone calls and a simple bracelet.
Deacon made a decision that will change his life forever. More important than any school, or job, or girlfriend, or financial decision... As a 5-year-old boy, on the cusp of turning 6, Deacon prayed last night for the Lord to forgive him of his sins. He admitted he does wrong, spoke of his belief that Christ died on the cross for him, and invited him to live in his heart and be Lord of his life.
Deacon accepted Christ!!!!
It was with tears that I sat with him and his daddy as he prayed. I know that he has never believed anything other than that Jesus has always been with him, loving him, carrying him... so it was funny when really all he wanted to know was when he would get baptized. When he asked that question repeatedly, we kept redirecting him, trying to focus on the importance of Jesus and not just the outward symbol of baptism. It wasn't until I put him to bed last night that I fully understood. He simply told me that he's always believed that Jesus is God's Son, sent here to earth to take our place. "It's not really THAT big of a deal. I asked Jesus in my heart a long time ago," he said. *Me, beaming*
A boy beyond his years. Truly embracing the gospel, without all the fluff or minutiae to debate, and taking God at His Word- He loves us enough to send His Son to die for us. That he understands. A son, a brother... dying. The talk of heaven, of longing, of what it means to have eternal life- none of that needs to be explained because in his short years, he's lived it. And he LOVES THE LORD not in spite of it, but because of it. Doesn't personal experience have so much to do with the choices we each make? Experience dictates our behavior, our thoughts, and ultimately our actions. And I love the choice our oldest child made last night.
Praise you God for using life experience to allow Deacon to know you more intimately. Despite the questions and fear, the child-like faith You speak of has been displayed right before my eyes. Thank you Jesus, for allowing me to get a up-close glimpse of you through the innocence and belief of a child. We praise you and celebrate like there is no tomorrow!... And we know there was a big celebration in Heaven last night... Maddox was one of the happiest of all.
"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."- Romans 5:20-21
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