April 5 – “Caleb”

We got one of the most important calls a grandparent can get last night.  We had clues that it was perhaps in the works, but this one came with FaceTime on Chris’ phone and text-messaged photos on mine.  When Chris answered the FaceTime call she saw little Luke, who greeted her with his usual, “Where’s Fredericke?  I want to see Fredericke.”  What can I say?  The guy loves our dog.  Once that assignment was covered, he went on to playing with the phone’s camera and trying to make a physical connection with us through it.  Sorry, Luke, technology is just not quite there yet.

Before long Caleb joined us, with his goofy antics and grand smile.  And it was Caleb who was the source of the big news.  Well, I guess it would be more accurate to say he was the object of the news.  We dropped a few hints to try to get him to tell us about the photos Dad had sent, but he was pretty busy being a seven-year-old.  Finally Dad prompted him, and he let us know that he had “asked God to forgive me.”  Yep.  In a nutshell, he prayed and committed his life to Jesus. 

Now, he had also written down in his Bible what he was feeling when he actually prayed (great idea, Dad).  So with Caleb’s permission (at his urging, in fact), his Dad read some of it to us.  Very heartfelt stuff.  The struggles of a seven-year-old raised in a great home with parents who both love Jesus are just as real as those of the crusty old codger who finally gives in to Jesus after years of running.  Baptism to follow on a date to be arranged later. 

Absolutely nothing better.  We are very proud of you, Caleb. 

John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.

Father, thank you for drawing Caleb to you and for receiving him into your kingdom.  Help him to grow.  That’s the hard part.  It just lasts so long … forever.  But it’s so worth it … forever.  Amen.