Yes, you read the title correctly. My littlest child, Lauren, accepted Jesus into her heart a week ago. She is only six so my husband, Carl, and I struggled with the same thoughts that might cause many parents to struggle. Does she really understand this? Does she know what this all means? It is the simple biggest decision a person can make. She has been asking for this moment for about a year. Carl and I would explain things to her the best we could when she would ask questions, but tried to hold her off from making a decision due to her young age.
Matthew 19:14 (NIV) says, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” Well, there came a point when we as parents knew that if we held her off any longer we might be hindering her or even discouraging her in her walk with Jesus Christ.
She said her prayer declaring she is a sinner, she believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God, she believes he died for her sins and rose again, and she wanted Him to live in her heart forever. I saw during the prayer the pure faith of a child. I couldn’t help but see the simpleness of the gospel through her eyes in those moments. Luke 18:17 (NIV) says, “‘I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'”
The gospel doesn’t have to be complicated. We are sinners. We are separated from God because of it. Jesus paid the price so we could be made right again. As our new pastor has said many times (and I paraphrase), “You will have to pay the cost for your sins, or Jesus can pay the cost for your sins. Someone has to pay, and it is your choice.” I choose the latter choice.
In my kid’s baby books, each one had a spot where you could write the dream you had for each child. My dream was always the same for each one. It was for my children to not only accept Jesus as their Savior, but to have a living and breathing relationship with Him. I don’t want the kids just to have their fire insurance. I want them to serve and give and love and bear much fruit. I want them to be not only hearers of the word, but doers as well.
So, Carl and I have felt very convicted lately that we need to up the ante in terms of having a Godly home, teaching our children about Christ, and reading the bible throughout the week with them. We went through a book this spring as a church called, Not A Fan. On one of the videos, a dad was talking about how his daughter was grown and not walking with the Lord. He said, “I brought her up in church, but I did not bring her up in Christ.” Those words hit me hard. We have a Godly home. We pray and listen to Christian radio. The kids know I read my bible and pray, but how often were we reading to them or memorizing scripture with them or encouraging them to have a quiet time. We knew we could do better.
So, it is with excitement I tell you that little Lauren has accepted Christ into her heart. However, it is our job to raise her up not only in church but in Christ. It is one of the main things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday as well as my family, my home, my friends, and Jesus Christ for being my Lord and Savior. I wish you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. To God be the glory!