Monday, December 31, 2012

...and the angels rejoiced

"Mama, what is Communion?"

Drew looked at me with intensity, really wanting to understand.  We were preparing leave home and drive to church for the Christmas Eve service while explaining to the younger ones what to expect.

"It is for people who have asked Jesus into their heart.  We eat bread and drink juice to remember his death on the cross for us."

"I want to do that," he said emphatically.

"Take Communion?  Well, when you ask Jesus into your heart you will get do do that."

"I have!" he insisted.

I looked at him, studied his 6 year old face.  He had been talking about this for weeks, and we had put him off a bit...wanting to be sure he really understood what it meant.  But as I looked into those big brown eyes, I saw a fierce determination that I could not deny.  He was ready.  I found his daddy and brought him into the conversation.

"Do you know what it means to be a Christian?" asked Daddy.

"Yes!" he insisted...obviously frustrated at these grownups who didn't seem to understand plain English.  "He died on the cross to pay for our sins."

"Then what?"

"Huh?"

"What happened after he died on the cross and was buried?"

"Oh, well he came back to life."

"That's right,"  said Daddy.  "So you want to be a Christian?  Do you want to do it when we go to church?"

Drew shook his adorable head.

"You want to do it now?"

"Yes!"

The three of us walked back into our bedroom, away from the noise of the house.  My heart was pounding at the holiness of what was about to happen...at the determination I saw in my son.  We sat on the bed with him between us, our hands on his back, and Daddy led him in prayer...
"I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me.  I know that he was buried and rose again on the third day.  I want to follow him."

I wiped away my tears and looked at my little boy suddenly made new.  Daddy gently instructed him that what he did was forever, that he never needed to doubt and wonder, that he never needed to do this again. He now has the Holy Spirit living in him.  He is safe in the palm of God's hand...his name is written in the Lamb's book of life.

We gathered up the kids and went to church.  I was an emotional lump...singing praises to my faithful God with new joy as I watched the face of my baby boy glow.  He sang his little heart out.  Daddy guided him through his very first Communion...calmly telling him to hold the bread in his hand until we all ate together, holding the tiny cup of juice for him to prevent a spill.  Then the piece de resistance...they played his very favorite song:  Jesus Messiah.  Drew looked at me with his huge grin and belted out every word.  This song...it was no accident.  God had it all orchestrated, of that I am convinced.  And oh, the delight as he sang to his Heavenly Father.  I watched him through tears and thanked God with every breath for the salvation of my son.

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

2 comments:

  1. Singing praises with the angels! Praise God!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What joyful news! I love to hear how God woos our kids into the kingdom.

    ReplyDelete

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