He sounded tired but peaceful, and peace is something that has evaded him.
Within moments, he began to recount his week with his campers as he is a counselor this summer at New Life Ranch in Colcord, Oklahoma.
Before he began, I had to let him know he was on the speaker and that my friends were in the car. During his second or third sentence, his voice booming over the speakers in my car, he offered humbly, “One of my campers who didn’t know Christ gave his life to God this week.”
Of course, we responded with great joy.
My heart is doubly glad tonight. I’m not sure if it’s ever okay to truly be selfish but in this moment I am- a selfish mom.
Tremendously joyful for the heart who heard enough about Love, that he wanted to rest within it. However, I am equally thankful for the peaceful, joy in my son’s voice as he narrated the victory.
Not his exuberant joy of a championship.
Not his anticipated joy of a scholarship.
Not his "expected accomplishment" voice that accompanies so many of his personal victories -
No this voice was sheer fulfillment for witnessing an eternal victory.
Don’t judge him too harshly if you think him too ambitious; winning is a pretty big deal in this family. We push hard and firmly believe to whom much is given much is expected.
I’m just so humbled, so thankful, so proud Wade was there. It’s a little selfish of me but also more proof that “he who began a good work in us will see it through to completion all for the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We are Easter people and we believe in life everlasting, even when...
I wonder what the phrase means, “and all the saints rejoice when a new soul is claimed for Christ”. Is it as simple and trite as the Christmas classic indicates and a bell rings? Do the angels burst out singing?
Since the Bible tells us God has each of the stars named and each hair on our heads numbered, does heaven light up with a new name? Or is it so ethereal, so purely spiritual that those in heaven just know.
I can’t help but wonder as that is where the other side of my heart lives. I giggle slightly - likely on the edge of sacrilege- to think of the sarcasm that would follow as she heard the good news...
“Nice job, freak boy.”
“Bout time kiddie-menu”
“Glad you didn’t screw that up punk”
If sarcasm was a part of God’s perfect plan, then trust me Taylor Renee had a couple one-liners for her baby brother.
Still, in all seriousness, it is always a good, a very good thing, when another name is added to the book of life - a new life, and this mamma's heart is moved that her boy wanted to share.
#golighttheworld
#bestrongandcourageous