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.