And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mark 10:13-16).
On March 23, 2005 my son Cole was born a bit earlier than expected, so he stayed in the NICU while his lungs finished developing. I remember watching his little chest rise up and down as he struggled to breathe. The first words I spoke to him were, "God loves you and I do too." I have been sharing Christ with him ever since. Each time I've called him to faith he's either rejected it by demonstrating physical discomfort (e.g. arched back, pushing me away, etc.), by telling me "I don't want to talk about that," or by ignoring me altogether. It reminds me a lot of his time in the NICU, except then he was struggling for physical rather than spiritual breath.
This past Sunday afternoon Feb. 28, 2010 Cole and I spent some time reading together as has become our habit. We're almost done with C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Finishing our time in Narnia with the children meeting Aslan and Peter's first battle, Cole rested a bit while I completed a book I've been reading lately.
About thirty minutes later Cole hopped into my lap, and we studied the first thirty-four questions of First Catechism: Teaching Children Bible Truths, the last few questions being about the covenant of life, our first parents, and sin. Cole did very well. His memory amazes me. When we finished I reached for my Bible to spend some time alone with the Lord. Cole went to get a snack and soon returned saying "Daddy, preach to me like at church." I began reading from John 6 while he ate, stopping along the way to talk with him about what it means to eat Jesus' flesh, drink Jesus' blood, come to Jesus, and believe in Jesus. When we got to the first of four "I will raise him up on the last day" teachings, we talked about sin, death, and the resurrection. He told me he wanted to believe in Jesus so that he would live forever. I asked if he believed the words of the Bible were God's words to him and if he believed Jesus died for him? He said, "I guess I do believe!" with great joy and exuberance. I said, "Well we need to pray together and thank God the Father for drawing you to his Son." Then I lead him to pray, "Father, thank you for drawing me to believe in Jesus. Thank you for saving me from my sins and giving me eternal life. Amen."
He asked me to continue reading the Bible. Each time we came to a "I will raise him up on the last day" teaching he jumped up and celebrated, rejoicing in the fact that he believed and would live forever in heaven with Jesus and Daddy. Along the way Mama made her way into the living room. Cole cut his eyes at her, pointed in her direction, and said rather matter-of-factly, "You've got to believe too, Mama." Mama assured him that she did believe and asked him, "What about Joanna?" (his two year old sister). He said, "Joanna won't believe, because she can't believe" (I think he meant that she was too young to understand). I asked him, "Why can't Joanna believe?" He said, "She just can't." I said, "I think she can and maybe she already does. She often brings the Bible to me, opens it up, and says, 'Read God.' Also, when we have family worship she prays and sings praises to God. She even has the first four answers of the catechism memorized." Cole said, "Maybe she does believe! Yay! We can all be a family in heaven!"
I held Cole and prayed over him, gratefully rejoicing in his confession and asking our heavenly Father to continue protecting him and nourishing him in the faith.
What a day!
This past Sunday afternoon Feb. 28, 2010 Cole and I spent some time reading together as has become our habit. We're almost done with C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Finishing our time in Narnia with the children meeting Aslan and Peter's first battle, Cole rested a bit while I completed a book I've been reading lately.
About thirty minutes later Cole hopped into my lap, and we studied the first thirty-four questions of First Catechism: Teaching Children Bible Truths, the last few questions being about the covenant of life, our first parents, and sin. Cole did very well. His memory amazes me. When we finished I reached for my Bible to spend some time alone with the Lord. Cole went to get a snack and soon returned saying "Daddy, preach to me like at church." I began reading from John 6 while he ate, stopping along the way to talk with him about what it means to eat Jesus' flesh, drink Jesus' blood, come to Jesus, and believe in Jesus. When we got to the first of four "I will raise him up on the last day" teachings, we talked about sin, death, and the resurrection. He told me he wanted to believe in Jesus so that he would live forever. I asked if he believed the words of the Bible were God's words to him and if he believed Jesus died for him? He said, "I guess I do believe!" with great joy and exuberance. I said, "Well we need to pray together and thank God the Father for drawing you to his Son." Then I lead him to pray, "Father, thank you for drawing me to believe in Jesus. Thank you for saving me from my sins and giving me eternal life. Amen."
He asked me to continue reading the Bible. Each time we came to a "I will raise him up on the last day" teaching he jumped up and celebrated, rejoicing in the fact that he believed and would live forever in heaven with Jesus and Daddy. Along the way Mama made her way into the living room. Cole cut his eyes at her, pointed in her direction, and said rather matter-of-factly, "You've got to believe too, Mama." Mama assured him that she did believe and asked him, "What about Joanna?" (his two year old sister). He said, "Joanna won't believe, because she can't believe" (I think he meant that she was too young to understand). I asked him, "Why can't Joanna believe?" He said, "She just can't." I said, "I think she can and maybe she already does. She often brings the Bible to me, opens it up, and says, 'Read God.' Also, when we have family worship she prays and sings praises to God. She even has the first four answers of the catechism memorized." Cole said, "Maybe she does believe! Yay! We can all be a family in heaven!"
I held Cole and prayed over him, gratefully rejoicing in his confession and asking our heavenly Father to continue protecting him and nourishing him in the faith.
What a day!
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