It began during the night. Someone woke with a "tummy ache" but we knew the real reason for this 3am visit . . . her Daddy was leaving for Haiti in the morning and she was sad. She woke that morning for school with tears in her eyes, " I miss Daddy. . . . I know, me too Soph, but he'll be home soon and the people in Haiti need to hear about Jesus too. Guess what we get to do after school?" {Hoping my words would distract her from her sadness & make for an easy transition to school} "What??!!!", she ask. "We get to pick Pop & YaYa up at the airport! They're flying back in from their vacation in NYC! . . . Cool!" She replies, and I take a deep breath because I think I've saved the morning. Pat on back, Bethany!
The airport was fun & busy - Kayla had made the kids signs to hold {like they were Dad & Mom's taxi pick up - it was hilarious!} I could kick myself that I didn't get a picture of them holding their "Pop and Yaya Taylor" signs. They were all quite the spectacle at the gate. Lots of hugs & squeals were passed around, made a stop at the baggage claim, a walk through the parking garage {in which my children, I swear, always attempt to get hit by a car} and we were on our way.
We rode in silence for a few minutes, then I heard Ella's voice from the back seat . . .
"Mom, is Mildred {their great Aunt} in heaven? . . . Yes . . . . So, does that mean we'll get to see her again one day? . . . Yes and Mamaw Dorothy . . . . Really?? We'll actually get to meet our Mamaw Dorothy? and talk to her and stuff??!!! {Mind blown at this point in time} . . . Yes . . . How do you get to heaven, Mom? . . . Well, Ella, the bible says that if you believe Jesus was who he said he was, you believe he died for your sins and that you will try your hardest to live your life for him & following his commands, then when you die, you spend forever in heaven with him" . . . . Sophie chimes in at this point, "Wait a minute, we get to talk to Jesus and touch him??" {mind totally & completely blown at this point}
Just when I think this conversation couldn't get any better, the next one takes place. . . .
"Mom, how do know if Jesus is in your heart? . . . There will come a time when you'll know that he is calling you. For me, I was sitting at church one day, hearing a lot of what we're talking about now - my heart began to beat really fast & I felt like I wanted to cry because I knew that Jesus had done all of this for me & that he loved me more than anyone - I knew that he was asking me to follow him that day - I knew that he was asking me if he could 'come into my heart' . . . . But how did you know, Mom . . . . I just knew girls, it's a feeling that you will just know. And I've been praying a lot for you to have that feeling - have you had that feeling yet? . . . . No, but I do believe in Jesus but I have felt my heart beating fast in gym class, but I don't think that was Jesus :) . . . Well, one day soon, you'll have that feeling - come to me & Daddy and we'll pray. . . . . and then after that, we get to get 'babitized'!!
That conversation is one of the sweetest, most precious moments I've ever had with my children. {Because Deacon was chiming in too!} And I felt the voice of God say to me in that very moment, Bethany, you don't have to go to Haiti to tell people about me. In fact, your most important "Gospel sharing moments" will happen in this van & inside the walls of your home.
That Tuesday afternoon was a much needed, ordained moment for me. I feel so often that I fail my children in so many ways. That I will mess them up or hinder them from God's calling on their life. It was solid reminder that day that their hearts are in his hands. When he's ready, he'll call. I'm holding to that promise all the while praying with all my might, that the One who is mighty to save will do just that for my three little ones & that they run their hardest after Him.
Here is our King. Here is our Love. Here is our God who's come to bring us back to him.
He is the one. He is Jesus.
lining up today:
