Well, I am behind on posting in this "journal," and we've been quite busy...but most notable of all our recent family experiences happened last Friday, March 2, 2012. I came home from work on a mission: I was painting the kitchen. Joe was away in New York to Man Camp at Mission Meadows with a bunch of awesome guys, and I was going to reface (with paint) the cabinets, paint the walls, change the cabinet knobs, and even (gulp!) paint the tile in the kitchen (yes, I researched this...) Anyhow, I got the kids ready for bed and sat down for what I thought would be our simple nightly devotion. And then.... before we even got into our reading, Arabella looked at me and said, "I want Jesus to live in my heart." I wonder if my heart stopped...for a second. But David's didn't. And neither did Andrew. They very matter-of-factly began to explain to her how to ask Jesus to forgive her for her sins ("the bad things you do") and how to ask Him to come live in her heart. And then David said, oh so sweetly, "Bella, do you want to do that? We can pray with you right now." And so we prayed. Actually, first Bella prayed. With her little blue eyes squinted shut and her hands clasped, my little girl said, "Jesus, please forgive me for the bad things I do, and will you please come live in my heart?" I prayed a thanksgiving prayer for her, and we went on to our Bible Story. Then I tucked my little sweethearts into bed, went downstairs, texted Joe and just knelt in the kitchen and cried, thanking my Savior for his sweet work in my child's heart. Thankful that sometimes when I think I have big plans, God has amazing plans and still lets me experience them when I am distracted. What a wonderful Lenten season here, what a wonderful God! And the angels rejoice...
Well, Joe had a super awesome weekend and came home encouraged and refreshed, and I did paint that kitchen all weekend, but nothing tops Friday night.
You are such a good mom. You taught your children well.
ReplyDelete