The Gospel as Explained to Caeden

First of all, I didn't take any pictures of our weekend away.  I didn't even think of it.  Sorry.  It was a good weekend though.  Caeden LOVED it, and I was glad that we were able to shower some love and attention on him.

Now, I have decided to write about something that happened last week and filled my heart up with joy.  It's not really connected in any way with Joel.  Still, I thought I'd write about it and share it.

It's going to be a bit of a stretch, maybe, for some of you unfamiliar with Christianity, or if you are an atheist, or etc.  I'd never make anyone read something against their will.  So I leave it up to you.  I'm not in your den right now, I'll never know if you read it or not.  It's up to you.  This post is about God.  And Jesus.  And one of the happiest things that I have ever been a part of, so I'm sharing it.  This blog is about sadness and grief most of the time.  Now this post is just plain about joy.

I have been praying for Caeden for awhile now.  Steve and I take him to Sunday School, we read to him from his children's Bible, we tell him about God.  I do this without any hesitation.  How could I hesitate?  I am convinced of the truth of the Bible, and I believe in telling my son the truth. 

Caeden has not been that interested though, to be honest.  He hasn't really wanted to memorize verses for Sunday School, and I don't make him.  He has verbalized that he wasn't interested in videos "from the Bible" and thought other kids videos were better.  He told me that he wasn't choosing God's side and he wasn't choosing the Devil's side.   (yes, he has also been taught about the reality of spiritual evil, but only AFTER he'd been taught about a good and loving God who was omnipotent.)

And I speak the truth to my child.  But I respect that he is an autonomous being that must make his own choices.  I have always tried NOT to force him about spiritual things.  God has never forced me, He offers us a choice.  So too must I parent my child, letting him make the final decisions about what spiritual choices he makes.  Though of course I make decisions as a parent on what cartoons are OK, etc, etc.

So, on with the story.  I have been praying for Caeden for awhile now.  And I talk with him about God and answer his questions, etc.

Last week he asked me a very, very good question.  He said (OK, this is not an exact quote, my memory is not that good, but it's a close paraphrase.  And same is true for all quotes following.) "If God made Satan, then how come God let him be bad and become His enemy?"  So I answered as best as I could.  I admitted that I had NO idea. 

I said "I don't know the answer to that, Caeden.  I don't know the answer because the Bible really isn't the story about God and Satan.  The Bible is the story of God and PEOPLE.  I don't know the answer for that about Satan, but I know a much more important answer that has to do with why God lets people choose if they will love and serve Him.  The Bible teaches that God wants us to love Him, and it can't be love if we don't choose.  God wants us to choose Him, that makes our love real."

From there I talked about how it says in the Bible that "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned each one to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6)  And we talked about what that meant.  I explained how in each of our hearts we wanted to go our own way.  We didn't want God to tell us how to act or the right way to go.  We said "I want to be number 1.  I want to make all the decisions.  I don't want to listen or obey God."  And just like silly sheep, our own way led us into trouble.  We got lost, we went the wrong way, we ran into wolves, we could not find our way back home to God.

Then I talked to Caeden about how Jesus said "I am the door of the sheep... If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved...I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."  I explained what that meant, how Jesus came to earth to die in our place so that we could have new life and a new heart.  I even explained some things about sheep and sheepfolds.  I told him that those olden day sheepfolds had no door, only a frame.  I explained how the shepherd would bring the sheep in, and then sleep in the doorway, making HIMSELF the door, keeping the sheep safe and sound by protecting them with his own life.

Then I let it drop, as his attention seemed to flag.  Later that day while we were playing a game, he wanted to be "#1" and he wanted to be in charge and make the decisions.  I pointed out to him how his heart was just like everyone else's, that he also wanted to be "the boss" all the time.  How often he didn't want to listen to what I said, and how often when he "went astray" he got into trouble.  I could see him mulling this over.

The next morning I was reading the passage that I had shared verses from the day before.  It's John chapter 10, and it is a beautiful passage if anyone is interested in reading it.  (L.P. or C.P., if you are still reading this, take it as a recommendation  ;)  )  After quoting parts to Caeden, I really wanted to re-read it, and start to memorize it.  He found me reading and asked me to read it out loud, so I did.

Then he asked me "How did you enter the Door, Mommy?  And how do I enter the Door?"  So I asked him "Do you mean that you want Jesus to be your shepherd, and be the door for you to be saved?"  And he said "yes."

So I explained to him that I had prayed something like this:  God, I am sorry for my heart that doesn't want to listen to You, that wants to do wrong things and go astray.  I want to go in the Door.  Thank you that Jesus died for me so I can be forgiven.  I want Jesus to be my Savior."

He told me "That's too long for me, Mommy, I can't remember that all.  So I took him through step by step and he repeated a prayer after me.

And then I just bawled.  Tears of joy just streamed down my face.  It was the most beautiful moment, and I am so glad that I had the privilege of sharing Jesus Christ with my son.

I know that he has lots to learn.  I know that there are parts he did not fully understand.  But I know he got the main parts, that his heart had been rebellious towards God, and that through Jesus he could come safely back into the sheepfold. 

And I know that in heaven there was a big party and Joel and my father were part of it, rejoicing.  I said this wasn't really to do with Joel, but look, here he is showing up at the end of the story.  Just like one day he'll show up at the end of mine.  And at the end of Caeden's too.  But best of all will be meeting our Shepherd in person, the one who loves us so much that He gives His own life for us.