Bittersweet Moment, So Excited and Yet a Little Sad!
We traveled back to Arkansas from Florida last night, leaving one of our children behind. Our oldest wanted to stay with “My-My” until they come on Tuesday which is fine, so we said our tearful goodbyes and headed our way. He of course was fine right after we left and so was I.
We talked to them about 4 hours into our trip and they went to watch The Verdict. A play my home church in Florida was putting on as an outreach to the city. My mom said they would call after the play was over to check on us and see where we were at. I, of course, was asleep at that time so I missed her call. We made it home at 3:30 a.m. and I was not about to call them at that hour so I figured I would talk to her sometime today.
So at 9:34 this morning my phone rings and it is my mom telling me they called last night and Gabriel wanted to tell me something, that he accepted Jesus into his heart last night and was saved.
Then Gman got on the phone with me and we talked for about 5 minutes and I told him how very proud I was of him and that he just made the most important decision of his life on his own. I never pushed him and I will never push my other children either but I will celebrate with them when they choose on their own and make this decision for themselves.
I immediately was flooded with emotions. I was so ecstatic for him. I was sad I wasn’t there. I was happy that he made the choice on his own. I was so glad that if anyone other than myself and my husband had to be there it was my mom and dad. This truly is one of the most bittersweet moments I have experienced as a mom.
We go to church every week and he knows his dad and I are saved but we know not to pressure our children and let them make the decision when they are ready so they mean it. We teach them about Jesus and try to lead by example to the best of our ability. It is definitely not the easiest thing in the world but it is the most rewarding, to know I will have eternal life. And now my son has made that choice. Sad that I wasn’t there but so happy for him. I can’t wait to watch my other two eventually come to that choice as I know in my heart they will.
As a parent it’s easy to want to push the kids to do what we want, to believe what we believe, but that isn’t the way it should be done. If we lead by example, pray and hold fast to our faith we can rest in the fact that our children will have enough knowledge from us and those in their lives to make this decision for themselves and when they do we will be there to celebrate with them. It’s not about pushing them to believe what we believe but being examples and teaching so they can decide on their own for that’s when they truly know what it means to make a choice.
Thank you Jesus for this moment in my child’s life and for giving me the children I have. I am so excited to see all the plans you have for each of them, this is just the first step to the many doors you have waiting for them to step through.
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Praise the Father!
Awwww Toni what a major moment and milestone, you helped set the foundation to his decision, by your faith in motion there at home.
Blessings to you and yours
Always
What a beautiful post, Toni! I know you are sad that you were not there, but this is how it was supposed to happen. Fate is unpredictable.
Faith, however, is taught. You and your hubby brought him here by paving the road for him. The decision, though, had to be all him.
I know you are proud, Toni. You have every right to be. He is, now, God's child, by his own actions.
They grow up fast, don't they?
Angela
What a beautiful story!!!
Wow, I am Jewish, and people just don't understand why I want to marry a Jew, raise Jewish kids, etc. They think by having them do Jewish things I will be forcing them into it. It's so nice to see someone else understand that you show your kids the religion you love and just hope they love it too
Toni- You have no idea how this story touches me. It brought me to tears. I am so happy for you and even more so for your son.
I am rejoicing with you on the decision your son made. How wonderful yet I can completely see where the bittersweet emotions come in. I would want my parents to be there if it couldn't be me too.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. As you know, I'm here from the BlogFrog also. I love your header and button!! Will be stopping back in.
Toni,
Brandie from BlogFrog thanks for commenting on my blog can't wait to come back and visit again soon! What a great post so happy for you and your son!
Just stopping by to introduce myself! I am also a Blog Frog community leader. Nice to "meet" you! Hope my blog is as successful as yours in the future!
-Amber
Awwww! That is so cool, Toni! I can tell how proud and excited you are – and understand it's sort of bittersweet, too, but still very very cool!
((HUGZ!))
How wonderful! I understand why it was bittersweet for you, but even from far away it is great to see our kids making the right choices all by themselves.
What a great post! Thanks for sharing.
Toni, My little guy did the same thing this summer isn't it amazing! I too was not there and my brother Liz's husband was the one who led him to Christ, It's posted on my blog! Congratulations to my little brother in Christ and to you Mom for being such a spiritual example!
Toni, This is so nice that you shared such a special moment with us. I don't know what church you attend but the words you spoke makes me think he will want to be baptized in your church and you can share that with him. He will want to share with your pastor also and get set this up. Just know you gave him the teachings he needed to make this surrender of his heart.
Such a great post, Toni! Thank you so much for sharing.
That is awesome. Our oldest three kids were the first three to stand during VBS in 2007 and profess their faith and desire to be baptized. It was an awesome experience for us to witness!
Congrats to your son… PRAISE GOD!
Kat @ For the Love of Chaos | http://www.SenileMOMentia.com
The most amazing feeling in the world! Thank you for sharing this most important decision in such a wonderful way. Glad I found your blog!
Oh congrats!! I am so happy for him. Sad for you too. I was not there when my second child accepted Christ. She was 13 and I was wondering…ok what is taking so long. But now I know she made the decision for herself at the time that was right for her. God is good!
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