Three for Eternity

There is a Yiddish proverb that says, "Man plans, God laughs." I had a completely joyful experience of that sort this morning.

Last week I wrote about how tender K's heart was for the Lord. I loved all of the great feedback and insight from so many of you in the comments. I had some additional conversations with two pastor friends and have been praying that God would let me know when the time was right. I did not want the moment to be manufactured. I wanted it to be natural...but I still had some expectations around it. I thought it would be dark outside. I thought my husband and I would both be present. In my plan it was also a very private moment...I thought the boys would be elsewhere so it could be just about K. I had already thought through ways to celebrate her decision so that the boys would feel no pressure to 'do it too.'

After gleaning wisdom from others, I spent some time deliberately talking with the children about different points of the Gospel: sin is disobedience and rebellion, all have sinned, we can never be 'good enough,' Jesus was God's plan to rescue us from our sin, etc. Just little bits here and there when we were in the car or had some quiet 'talking time' together.

Then this morning it all unfolded in a way I never would have scripted. As they hurriedly ate their cold cereal for breakfast (because we were running late) I was reading the children a poem called "Jesus is Better than Santa." When we got to the line that mentioned Santa intruding through your chimney while Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks, waiting for an invitation the boys started giggling.

"Jesus doesn't knock on da do-wa of my heart," R said, "He lives in dare."

I explained to him that Jesus does indeed wait for you to invite Him to live there--and that once you do He will be there forever...but that each person has to make that decision.

"Yeah. I already did that," K stated matter of factly.

"You did? When?"

"The other night in my room in the dark after you tucked me in. I just talked to God about it when I was alone" she said.

Seriously? I couldn't help but giggle. That is SOOOO my girl. I have been praying and talking and planning...and she just privately worked it our with her Lord.

As I was still processing K's revelation P said, "Mama, I want to ask him into my heart. How do I do it?"

I explained that we believe in our hearts and we confess with our mouths--and that usually happened with a prayer. He folded his hands and bowed his head then said, "OK."

I started babbling through a sinner's prayer...still in a bit of disbelief that this was all unfolding at 7:15 on a random Tuesday over Kashi. Then I heard his sweet voice very seriously repeating my every word. It was truly one of the most tender moments of my life.

As we finished praying I lifted my head and saw R. I really, really did not want him to feel any sort of pressure or like he was left out. Help me, Lord, I thought.

No sooner had I completed that thought than R said, "Now it is my turn. I want to ask Jesus to live in my heart too, Mommy."

My thoughts were racing...This is amazing. But, is he really making this decision or copying his siblings. What do I do? I don't ever want him to doubt that this was real. Help me, Lord.

And suddenly I remembered that my earnest prayer had been for God' s perfect timing. I certainly was not going to stand in the way of my son making a profession of faith. I will not allow the Enemy to steal this joy. So, we prayed.

We called my husband and told him the big news then went about our school day preparations. After school we celebrated our spiritual birthdays with a small red velvet cake that I picked up at a bakery downtown.

I had no idea when I woke up this morning what a special day December 1st would be for my family for years to come. We will obviously continue to talk about this. I am planning to take them each for separate appointments with our children's pastor to talk through their decisions. But tonight we rejoice at their precious little hearts so open to following the Lord. And I giggle at my constant desire to plan and God's uncanny way of surprising me in glorious ways.

The blessing I send to friends with new babies is always this: May this precious one come to know the Lord at a young age and follow Him all the days of their life.

I am so thankful God chose to answer the first part...now we pray for the rest.