I remember the day I gave my heart to Jesus. I was seven years old. I can still close my eyes and feel the same feeling that I felt that day, a sense of overwhelming peace and joy and happiness.
I danced in the aisle of our church because I could not contain the joy, and at seven it was okay to dance in church. Plus I went to an Assembly of God church so it was okay for adults to dance in the aisle too.
Since then I’ve heard pastors and other Christians say that you know that moment. Your life changes in that blink of an eye. Not your situation in life, but the you in your life changes. One day you are a sinner, and the next day you are forgiven. Even at seven years old.
Of course you still sin. No one is perfect. But there is something different about you. I can feel that. I can remember that change, that shift of being one thing and then being another. I don’t even know any other way to explain it. If you haven’t experienced it then there is no way to know what I mean.
We talk to our kids about Jesus. We only go to church off and on, mostly for personal reasons that I don’t want to get into in this post, but we talk to our children about our faith and our beliefs. David and I both believe that Jesus is the son of God and that He died for our sins on the cross so that we go to Heaven when we die. We both believe that the only way to get to Heaven is to believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, to profess that belief, and to ask Jesus into our hearts so that we can be forgiven of our sins. That’s what we teach our kids.
Cady has always been a special kid. She was our miracle baby, and there has always just been something about her that is different. At four years old, in a very serious manner, she asked me about Jesus and about going to Heaven and she said a prayer to ask Jesus to come into her heart and be with her forever. I didn’t give her the words. I just told her what I believed. I didn’t even tell her to say the prayer. She did it all on her own.
At the time I thought that she was too young. I thought she was doing something that I was just talking to her about and that she didn’t really understand the full implication of what she was doing. I was wrong.
The other day we were sitting and talking about something, I don’t even remember what, when she brought Jesus up again. She said, “Mom I know that Jesus lives in my heart. I asked him to come in there and I know that he’s there.” Then I knew. Three years ago when she said that prayer she meant it with all of her little heart. She did understand what she was doing and she meant every single word.
This weekend she was staying with my mom and they were talking about something personal in my mom’s life (Cady and Mom have some pretty deep discussions sometimes). Mom said Cady looked at her and said, “Nana, we are going to pray about this and I know that God is going to help you. I believe that He has something really special for you and I’m going to pray about it.”
Because that’s what we do at home. When we are going through a hard time, or even a good time, we pray. We ask God for help when we need it and we thank God every day for the blessings in our lives. If there is only one lesson my kids learn from me THIS is the one I want them to learn.
I have never been more proud to be a mother.
Note: I know all people have different beliefs. I don’t judge other people for what they believe or hold them up to my standard. That’s not my place. I don’t believe in Bible bashing. I believe that God leads us down the path that HE wants us to follow and not all of our paths are the same.
Religion is so interesting and so personal to me.
The other day my little one was asking about church as we drove by one (we don’t go to church – whole big organized religion thing). She was wondering why we didn’t go. When I didn’t answer her as quickly as she wanted she piped up from the backseat “is it because we don’t know the language” which totally made me think even harder about what I wanted to tell her and explain to her about the whole organized religion thing.
My son seems to have a very strong connection to God despite our non-church going ways. As young as 4 he used to talk all the time about his “talks” with God. It was always reassuring to know he had that relationship.
One night after a very long day at work and a visit to the urgent care with a then 6 month old Princess I was driving home. Golden Boy and Princess were in the back seat and it was a very cold dark night in the middle of February. All I wanted to do was get home and try to get my little baby to feel better. As we are driving down this long windy country road Golden Boy (whom I thought was sleeping) piped up from the backseat “Don’t worry mom we are going to be ok. God’s friend is with us tonight”. I asked him to repeat himself and he did. I then asked him what he meant and he told me that God’s friend was sitting in the passenger’s seat making sure we got home okay. Of course then I almost swerved off the road as I craned to try to “see” God’s friend. At first I was completely spooked, but then as I saw how calm and happy Golden Boy was I was completely reassured that whatever might have happened was not going to happen because we did have someone watching out for us that night.
Ugh – sorry for such a long response. Your post just reminded me so much of what a special connection that children do have to God and that connection doesn’t necessarily have to be built in a church.
So happy that Cady has that in her life.
We don’t go to church for some of those same reasons, but this let’s me know that walking the walk is so much more important than being in a building. Don’t get me wrong. I do think going to church is important, and I hope one day we can find a place we feel comfortable, but until then I will not stop having faith or telling my kids how important God is in our lives.
Also? That story gives me chills. To have the sight of little children would be amazing.
I wish I could feel that again. After starting my life this way, and alwasy believing, I had it ripped away from me at 17. Now at 36, it is difficult for me to pray (because I feel stupid) because of all the criticism I endured while being an unwed teenage mother. It has been along time since I have been to church, but my children attend every Sunday and Wednesday. I hope one day I will be able to believe again. People don’t understand how their harsh words and extreme criticism can harm a person.
I’m so sorry that happened to you. Those people were wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, and people like that is just one of the reasons I don’t feel comfortable in church. BUT I will not let them take my faith from me. God has moved too much in our lives for me not to know that he is there taking care of us. You were there during all the time we were trying. You know what it was like. Those people may have judged you harshly, but look at the blessing you have today because of what happened. Don’t let them steal your joy.
I think that is beautiful. I get really tripped up with this and our kids. Zoe doesn’t really know anything. Noah has asked questions and I have answered them as best and non-influential as I could. My problem is that I don’t know what to tell them because I have my own crisis of faith that I do not understand going on. So, I end up telling them “some believe this”, “some believe that” but never what I believe. Ever since DJ’s mom died, he has become agnostic. I believe in God… but for some reason, I cannot explain or understand, I have been drawn to the Jewish religion for the past few years, so I have been studying it, but nothing like a conversion, because I am not sure. I wish I could just confidently tell my kids what I believe without question… but I can’t pull it off.
Children are just so pure of heart – what a beautiful story to share!
What a sweet story. I know the feeling you are talking about! The best one…ever.
I just started a new blog and would love for you to pop over and say hi! We are gearing up for THE BEST SUMMER EVER!
Ah, if we could all stay as open, trusting and loving as we were as children, the world would be a much gentler, peaceful place. (Another Spring Fling SITStah)
I went to Assembly of God church as a kid too!
Were you a Missionette?
Bean’s first communion was almost two weeks ago and I can tell you that their is nothing like experiencing the love and teachings of God through your own child. I could feel your pride and faith and Cady’s heart as I read this. You are one good momma! xo
This is just an incredible post. I wish I could have written it. Entire books have been written that didn’t state the truth as succinctly as you just nailed it. Thank you to you and to Cady.
This just warms my heart.
Both Jdaddy and I grew up going to church. I was baptized and confirmed. Jdaddy was baptized, but never went through confirmation. We believe, but we don’t go to church. We haven’t found a church that feels like “home”, granted, we haven’t looked much either.
The other day, I was talking to Jdaddy and I said that I feel guilty that our boys don’t have the “base” of Christianity, like we do. Even though we don’t attend church, we both believe, and we are trying to teach our boys, but I don’t know the best way. They really should be in Sunday school.
This is great, Jennifer. I love it.
You and David are doing a pretty fabulous job with those babies.