Jackson & The Praying Tree

On Wednesday, July 12th, the kids and I were all in the van running errands together and Jackson shared with us that earlier that day he had said some special prayers at their praying tree outside.  He said he prayed for Papa's shoulder, he asked Jesus to heal Mimi and then he asked Jesus to come into his heart and save him.  Jackson had been talking more and more about spiritual things the past couple months, so I just responded to him that I would love to talk more and out that and we could answer questions he may have about it all.  Well, later that evening, Jackson came up and asked when we were going to sit down and talk more about Jesus saving him.
I have been praying since my children were in my womb for their salvation.  I pray they will be sensitive to spiritual things and that their hearts will be turned toward Jesus at a young age.  But, I also pray that the Lord will make it so completely clear to Jeremy and I that it truly is the Holy Spirit working in their hearts and not just "what everyone else is doing" or "what they think they should do."  We pray the Lord will capture their hearts at a young age and then the Spirit will be persistent with pressing in on their hearts.
So, when he came to me again that same day on his own initiative, I was overwhelmed with the assurance from the Lord that I needed to carve out some time and sit with him to talk uninterrupted. I put the kids down and then Jack and I went to my room and crawled on the bed together to talk.  He shared with me once again that he asked Jesus to save him by the praying tree earlier that day.  He said that he knows he does bad things (sin) and that Jesus died on the cross for him and hat he wanted to go to heaven one day.  So, we talked about sin and how it separates us from God/heaven.  We talked more about How God sent Jesus to save us and he took our punishment on the cross when He died. I then explained that we just ask Him to save us, forget for us and then we ask him to be in charge of our loves.  I explained it to him that it's kinda like we have a pretend chair in our heart and we have to choose whether Jesus is on the chair and in charge or if we are in charge of our lives.  He quickly said, "oh I want Jesus in charge."  Sweet boy.  So after taking some more, I just told him he could pray and just talk to Jesus about his decision and thank Him for dying and tell him He wants to live for Jesus.  So, right then and there...Jack prayed the sweetest prayer.  "Dear Jesus, I'm so sorry I do bad things and sin.  Thank you for dying for me.  I want to be saved.  I want you to sit on the chair in my heat. Amen."
Sweet childlike faith.  It's been so neat to see the Lord work in His life this summer.  With Mimi battling ALS, we openly talk about life, healing and death....and heaven is talked about very openly. We talk about how God will either choose to heal Mimi on earth or in heaven but she will be healed one day.  We talk about how there is no more sickness in heaven.  This summer, we also made a visit to Ieremy's dad's grave.  We talked to the kids about how bodies are buried in the ground but that the soul of a person who knows Jesus is in heaven.  Jackson and Bella both were very inquisitive about this and it really spurred on discussion with lots of questions.
As difficult as the passing of Gaga was nearly 6 years ago and has heartbreaking as it is to watch Mimi suffer from this cruel diseases, we see God working and changing lives including Mimi's grandchildren.  She has prayed and prayed for their salvation. In fact, within 2 weeks of each other, Jackson, Sadie and Houston all accepted Jesus.  God is amazing....He offers such peace, hope and faith.
I praise Him for the answered prayers....the prayers I began praying when his little body was forming and developing in the womb.  I praise Him for reaching down and rescuing Jackson, Sadie and Houston all within such a short time...a direct answer to sweet Mimi's prayers and a reminder to us all that He is good...He is God...He is in the life changing and miracle working business.  He loves us so much and is so kind to allow us to share in this time of rejoicing amidst the grief we are all enduring with sweet Mimi's progressing disease.
May all those who see and hear of His kindness and goodness be drawn to Him.