The familiar knock came on the bedroom door. Someone neeeded to talk. The teary voice of our youngest answered our query.
When he entered and came to our bedside, we knew big things were on his mind. He has always thought deeply and asked so many out -of the-blue questions about life and philosophy.
"I just think I need to be saved'. There it was out.
My husband and I both had the same thoughts , I knew.
This child is ...just a child.
I know there are many differing ideas about when a child is ready and they all tumbled through my head. He was not the first to come at the this age ,nor was this the first time he had come.
The first time was several months ago. We talked and determined that he was worried by the sermon and just wanted assurance that he would go to heaven. We prayed with him, told him to keep listening to God and he went merrily on his way.
Should we do the same tonight?
We talked. He was very knowledgable about the whole process , who God is and who he is without God.
He told us he had been doing a lot of thinking and reading. He mentioned that overhearing a conversation by older siblings about their concern for his behavior had bothered him. He mentioned the "Ten Commandment" plaque on the wall.
But after talking awhile my husband still felt some hesitation. He agreed to prayer and thinking it over.
His prayer was simple and sweet. "God, I want to hear You and know it's You and I want to know how to go all the way with You."
My husband and I talked seriously after he left. After eight other children you would think this decision would be easier to truly know how best to lead them through but somehow as always with child-training they each one throw their particular little curve into it.
We rolled over to sleep trusting ourselves and our child to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit's direction and voice.
.....A knock at the door...
"You know, I just really think I need to take care of it now."
There was no denying that certainty.
He added, "It was a weird thing when I was waiting in the hall and coming into the room, I kept hearing the word, 'someday', 'someday'......I think it was the devil...."
Ah, yes, even a child can know.
Again his prayer was simple , though longer than before. He started " Thank you....God, I pray to be a good soldier for you......I'm sorry.....I pray that I can go all the way with you and never give up......"
Yes, Lord!!!
