Last week was Vacation Bible School at our church and I helped in the 4, 5, and 6 year old class all week. I was a little apprehensive at first because that meant I’d be following my own children all week and I just wasn’t sure that was a good idea, however, I do like to observe how they behave and interact with other kids in that kind of setting. We had a great week. The weather held out all week long and all of the kids had a blast. I suppose, before I go any further, I should tell you a little bit about Joshua (my six year old).

Joshua is a tender hearted child. He is sensitive, yet still a man’s man. He loves to do anything and everything that Daddy does. He loves singing…so much so, that when he learns a new worship song, he likes to write the chorus down and hang it in his room.  Joshua has asked about the meaning of the Lord’s Supper on many occasions and often insists that Jesus is ALEADY in his heart, so why can’t he participate? Joshua can tell you all about the birth of Jesus, miracles He performed while on the Earth, his death on the cross, and his resurrection three days later. He understands that Jesus is God’s son, but Jesus also IS God. His understanding, and ability to retell the story of Christ, at the age of six, has always amazed me. His faith is truly that of a child. If someone is hurt or sick, Joshua’s first response is to pray for them because he has the faith that if you ask, Jesus will hear, and many times will answer with healing. Joshua ministers to me through his faith and sincere desire for more understanding on a regular basis. This is why Friday night was so precious to me….

…at the end of their very last class in VBS last night, the teacher asked if anyone would like to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts. Joshua turned and looked at me with the hope of “permission” in his eyes. I nodded and he shot his hand up in the air. His teacher, being a dear friend of mine, looked at me with tears in her eyes, and directed Joshua to come and sit with Mommy so we could pray together. About five other children prayed to receive Christ as well. As Joshua sat beside me, I took his hand and fully planned on helping him say the prayer of salvation. Much to my surprise, Joshua closed his eyes and began to pray by himself. This is what he prayed,

“Lord Jesus, please come into my heart. Thank you for dying on the cross and coming back to life so I could have life. I promise I’ll do anything you tell me to. Thank you for taking my sins. And please come into the other kids’ hearts who love you too! And if some of the kids don’t love you yet, but they change their minds later, will you come into their hearts too? I love you Jesus. Amen.”

Yes, I was bawling.
What an incredible little boy with an amazing destiny for the kingdom of God.

Jesse just happened to be spending the night at his Mimi’s last night and chose to miss the last night of VBS, so Joshua was able to have this night to himself.  However, when we got in the car to drive home, he got on my cell phone and called Jesse to share the news with him…and Mimi, and Papa, and Nana and Grandpa. We’re so proud of him.
He now has a new kind of birthday. The day he was birthed into the kingdom of God and became a child of the king. June 12, 2009 will be in my heart forever.

~audrey

This entry was posted on Monday, June 15th, 2009 at 5:47 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.