The Most Proud Moment in the Life of this Mommy

My oldest child Camryn has always given me a lot to be proud of.  She is definitely the typical first born. You know overachieving, definitive leader (aka bossy), smart as a whip, little grown up.  She typically makes wise decisions and airs on the side of caution.  It's easy to make a mommy proud when you follow the rules and don't appreciate when others bend or break them.  However, last night trumps all my proud mommy moments.

Camryn has been in church her entire life.  She has been inquiring about what it means to be saved for several months now.  She never quite grasped what it meant and just went about her business once her questions were answered.  Last night as I was tucking her in and saying her bedtime prayers with her, she called my name just as I was about to leave her side.  She said, "Mommy, how do I get saved?"  Naturally my heart started beating really fast and I was filled with such joy at her question.  I sat back down and asked for clarification of her question to ensure she was asking what I thought she was asking.  Indeed she was.  She told me about her afternoon at Good News Club and how they asked if anyone wanted to be saved or if anyone had questions about being saved.  She said that she raised her hand because she had questions.  We sat and talked about what it meant to be saved, what it meant for her future, the steps that people have to take after they are saved, and how you become saved.  I think maybe I explained a little too much at one time for her brain to take in because at the end she said, "I think I'm just going to wait for the right time."  I called Brent in for back up and to share the good news of her questions.  He explained a little more and told her that there would never be a right time.  Finally God gave me just the words to say when I was out of explanations.  Those words clicked with her and she said, "I want to be saved, but I don't know the prayer to save me."  Of course there is no magic prayer to grant salvation, but I am so blessed to have been able to lead her in a prayer granting her eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.  I got maybe three words out before the tears started flowing.  Then I hear her sweet little voice trembling as she repeated the words after me.  As we finished and said amen, I felt her loving arms wrap around me and squeeze me so tightly.  I whispered in her ears the words, "I am so proud of you.  I promise that this is the best decision you will ever make!" 

As I let her go I began to think about what was happening in heaven at that very moment.  In my mind I pictured a glorious party with angels dancing and praising God for her salvation so I figured why not show her what the angels in heaven were doing.  Yes, this mommy was doing the "Cabbage Patch" saying Go Camryn. It's your birthday.  

Now I am not naive enough to believe that Camryn fully understands what it means to be saved because I didn't grasp the full meaning and the wisdom of my salvation until later in life, but that's just how it works.  In  Romans 10:9-10 it says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."  That is where salvation begins...confession.  Then comes the road to wisdom.  Now we have the challenge (that I'm so happy to be a part of) to help in shaping and molding her into the incredible, beautiful woman of God that God has designed her to become.  I know there will be many trials, temptations, and worldly junk that she's going to encounter on that journey, but I am so thankful to know that God is right there with her upholding her with His righteous right hand and that, "...neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate (her) from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).  Psalm 37: 23-24 gives me confidence to know that He will finish the good work He began in her last night.  It says, "The LORD directs the steps of the godly.  He DELIGHTS in EVERY detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will NEVER fail, for the LORD holds them by the hand."  God has my girl's heart so I need not worry about a single detail of her life...that's His job!

As proud and as happy as I am, her earthly mother, I can just imagine the God who sent His one and only son to come and endure the cross for her sins smiling down on her weeping with joy and filled with fatherly pride, saying "SHE WAS WORTH IT".  She was worth it, I was worth it, and you, my friend (whoever you may be), ARE WORTH IT!!!  Have you taken that step and given your life to Jesus?  If not, will you take that step today?

P.S. To those who have taken any part in the decision my sweet girl made last night, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you for investing in the life of my precious baby!  Because of you and your love for God, Camryn now has the promise and hope of an eternal life spent in heaven, "playing with God" (as she said).  I ask you to join me in prayer and pray for "her story" that God has already written and her obedience to His calling on her life.  Phil. 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in (her) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  

A special thank you to her amazing Good New Teachers who have really inspired, encouraged, and made sense to her this year (Michelle McClear and Mrs. Betty Jean Simms).  She adores you ladies and so do I!  Thank you to MIke & DeAnna Morris (you've done so much for the spiritual life of our family), Michael & Andi Williams (providing awesome lessons and Bible School and loving my children like your own), Our grow group (surrounding us with your friendship, love and kindness), "Mr. (Uncle) Chris" Gibson (you know you have a special place in this girl's heart...I couldn't think of anyone better!), Washington Baptist Church (for an amazing Good News Club and Awannas team), Danielle Owens (so, so much to thank you for, but today especially for picking her up from Good News and Awannas every week and loving her like your own), P.Collins (I know a seed was sown from you early on!), and anyone else who has shown my baby the love of Jesus!  Thank you!!!

Camryn, "I love you tttthhhhhiiisss much!"