So we have taken the concept of positive
thinking and attitude to a whole new level since my other half’s car
accident. As my 5 year old and I head
out to the car, his father sees us to the door and together we recite Psalm
118:24. “This is the day the Lord has
made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
(NKJV). When we get into the car,
my son’s godfather, who has been a heaven sent blessing taking him to and
picking him up from school also recites this verse with us before we say a
quick prayer heading off into our day.
Words in general have enormous power.
When my husband was in a car accident earlier
this year, January 24th to be exact, the verse he couldn't escape was
James 1:2-3. “Consider it pure joy…whenever
you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
produces perseverance.” (NIV). Usually these days the reaction most people
have to our family is “OMG, you guys just can’t catch a break.” Yeah sometimes it does feel like that. If it’s not a person then it’s something or
other that’s usually going wrong. But I
have to say, that verse did give us both pause.
Jesus said to his disciples in Mark
10:14-15 “Let
the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not
receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
(NIV) Lately my 5 year old has been very
intrigued about Sunday school, the Bible for Kids app on my tablet, and Chris
Tomlin’s song, “Whom Shall I Fear.” Not
sure how the 5 year old mind works so far be it for me to deny him when he
wants to go to Sunday school or do his Bible for Kids app or listen to that
song for the 1000th time.
He’s been on the precipice of something
and I wasn't quite sure what exactly. I
was eager to get him to salvation and accepting Christ. His father pointed out that salvation is more
than just saying what is called the “sinner’s prayer” in Christian
circles. It’s a point of acceptance at
the wonder of who God is. It’s that
moment when you realize that you are loved by this amazing God so much that He
sent His son to die in your place.
So did we try to explain this to our
son? Yes of course, since the moment he
was old enough to ask about the whole Easter business. That was a few years ago. He was quite young and I’m not really sure
what his 3 year old brain thought about such things. Earlier this evening, I had a choice to
make. As my father and sister-in-law
headed off to the Friday night prayer service at our church I had to decide
whether or not it would be worth my while to go to church today. After all I have made this renewed commitment
to seek after Him whom my heart loves beyond all else.
I was tired and feeling lazy. After everything else, I really just wanted
to head over to the diner and hang out with my family. Which is what we ended up doing. Then something amazing happened. It was so subtle, that I could have missed it
if I had blinked.
Christopher: Daddy do you know what would make God really
sad?
Daddy:
What?
Christopher: If you said “I don’t love you God.”
Me:
That is true.
Christopher: I will never say that, because I love Him so
much.
Breathe my heart. Inhale, exhale. As Jesus said to his disciples when they
tried to turn the little children away, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder
them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not
receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15 (NIV)
If I had to do it all again, I would, in a heartbeat oh God. You have made me glad. The sorrow will last for the night because as
you promised, my joy will come in the morning.
How can I have anything but joy as I face these trials set before
me? I know you are with me every step of
the way. Where ever I go, you will never
leave me or forsake me. How can I regret
anything in my life when you have showered me with such abundant beauty and
grace?
I sat there and finished my dinner. Tonight was a moment, I never want to
forget. We make choices in life. I chose not to go into his house tonight but
to spend it with my son. Because of that
choice, I got to witness that moment in my son’s life where his young heart was
handed over to Christ. I could hear his
name being etched into the Lamb’s book of life.
Maybe I didn't get a lot of things right in my life. But at least God has allowed me to get this
far with amazing grace and mercy.
That was so my IT moment!