Hi Mom, I’d like to share something very important with you.
As a mother, one of my deepest wishes is my children will have a relationship with their heavenly father beyond my teachings. I don’t want them to know about Jesus only by the stories I or their Sunday school teachers tell them.
I want them to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Due to their age, we say bedtime and mealtime prayers together. We read their children’s Bible and I do my best to shed light on how Jesus works in situations.
But deep down, when they’re old enough to make their own decisions, I worry if I’m doing enough. Have I reflected the Savior’s love to them when I should?
I pray they’ll know the Holy Spirit and allow Him to influence their life.
A few weekends ago, we went camping. Fishing poles bounced against our shoulders as we headed down to the small lake. Sunshine bounced and danced across the deep green surface, twirling on the gentle ripples.
My son hooked and reeled his first fish, completely by himself. While baiting our hooks, my three-year-old daughter squealed, “I’ve got a fish!”
I tripped across the rocks and placed my hands over hers. Sure enough, there was a fish on the line. With my fingers guiding hers, we reeled in her first fish. I was worried she’d be squeamish when Daddy killed the fish and strung it on the line to take back to camp.
By the second fish, she hollered, “Here’s your rock.” (Our rule is anything you kill you have to eat, except for insects.)
Besides helping my daughter reel in her fish, I didn’t get a bite. After we had four fish on the line, I told my kids if I didn’t catch anything in the next five minutes, we’d leave.
Four-and-a-half minutes later, my line dipped into the water. I set the hook and reeled in the fish. The tip of my pole strained to the lake’s surface.
The largest trout of the day flipped from the end of my line. My kids shouted encouragement as I landed him on the rocky shore.
We walked back to camp, our dinner hanging from our string, when my seven-year-old son turned to me and said, “Mom, God didn’t let you catch a fish until the very last because He was saving the biggest one for you.”
A lump formed in my throat. “You’re right, buddy.”
God whispered in my ear, “You shouldn’t worry. He sees me, I will reach him and teach him.”
Tears stung my eyes. Our God is faithful. I can’t control my son’s faith.
I don’t have to. That’s God’s job.
And He never sleeps on the job.
Mom, may you hear gentle whispers from God telling you to trust Him with your child’s faith. It will be a sweet sound in your ear.
Your friend,
Melissa
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Melissa K. Norris inspires people’s faith and pioneer roots with her books, podcast, and blog. She lives with her husband and two children in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains. Visit her at www.melissaknorris.com.
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