This is what Elijah looked like at age 2. He's cute, right?
I miss his ample curls and stout little body. But the dimples are still there and that "Joker" grin that spreads from ear to ear remains his most memorable feature.
But he's not so little anymore. At 6, his curls have given way to wave, and his body has stretched and strengthened. Of course, he's changing in more ways than just the physical: he reads whole books now and puts his own sheets on the bed and rides a two-wheeler like a speed-demon. But on Saturday, April 3rd ("Easter Eve"), he grew in the best way there is. The most important way, I'd say.
On Saturday, Elijah asked Jesus into his heart. Now, I know some reading this don't believe in God. Don't think it's important to wonder about the afterlife or question whether we are, in fact, all alone. I get that. I respect that. But, at our house, there simply is no other more important decision than the one to follow Jesus Christ all your days. While parents differ in approaches, Craig and I choose to provide the information through word and deed. We share what it means to be saved and, when they're old enough to understand, we talk about our own decisions to accept Christ in 1992 and 1994, respectively. Then, when they're ready, we believe our kids will ask how it all works...particular to each one's heart.
Saturday was Elijah's time.
Driving home from church, Grace asked me what was my favorite part of Easter. I told her. This began a conversation about Jesus' sacrifice and how we believe Easter is about more than eggs and bunnies and candy (though those are all fun, too). Now, Grace made her choice in 2007, so she's had 3 "Jesus Birthdays", as we call them. Elijah knows this, but has never asked much more about it. Then, out of nowhere from the back of the minivan comes this question: "So what do you have to do to be saved?" Daddy took over from there, and the exchange continued the rest of the way home. But as we pulled into the garage and the door closed behind us, I knew for sure it was his time. His turn. His choice. So I asked him, "Bubba, do you want to ask Jesus into your heart? Do you want to be saved?"
Pause.
"Yes. I do."
He came up to the front of the van, we laid our hands on him, hugged him, and Craig led him through a prayer.
I cried.
Then I explained to Elijah's confused expression that girls cry when they're happy. He shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "K." Yeah, bud, it confuses me, too.
But the best part of that moment was seeing Grace cry, too. She was happy, as she told him, because she knows he'll be in heaven, too. So they'll always get to play together and "someday hang out with Jesus."
Of course, that made me cry more.
Still happy though.
Here's our son today.
No, he's not 2 anymore. But he's not a man yet, either. And each year, on April 3rd, we'll celebrate his decision with angel food cake not just to remind him that it's a reason to celebrate...though it surely is. But also to remind him that every year is a new year, a fresh chance to renew that choice and to live it for a lifetime.
Someday, he won't be 6. He will be a man. He'll have a job, a wife, maybe some kids, too. Who knows? He may even have a minivan (or the future version of it) of his own. But from 2 to 6 to 26, he'll come to remember that moment when he asked, when he prayed.
And became someone new.
I believe he'll remember how much his parents loved him.
How we treasured him.
How his sister embraced him....
and how Jesus saved Him.
