My Dearest Emily,
This is a letter you will most likely not read for some years, yet one I am hopeful will be etched on your heart long before your eyes glimpse the words on the written page. This season of your life has been marked with numerous new beginnings. From your first loose tooth to the first day of school and a baptism in between, the winds of change haven’t ceased to blow.
Over three weeks ago, Daddy was reading a Bible account to you and the boys before bedtime, as is customary in our home. I was busy cleaning up the many pieces of creativity you had left strewn in your room. In case you haven’t noticed, Mama has some Martha-like tendencies. As Daddy was reading to you from the The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
you bowed your head in prayer. At the conclusion, of the text, you told your Dad that you had asked Jesus into your heart. To put it another way, you had prayed and put your faith and trust in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Daddy asked you to share the news with me when I entered the room and we hugged you and kissed you now our sister in Christ with joy, and I will admit, a little apprehension. The only apprehension that we both had was the question of certainty you knew the decision that you had made. Did you fully understand the gospel and what it means to be a Christ follower? Then I was reminded of the verse in Matthew 19:14:
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
We have heard your prayers prayed in the “prayer chair” (a rocking chair that was a baby gift to Emily), “Lord Jesus, thank you for taking the punishment. It should have been us that got the punishment; not you. Please be with all the people of the world. Be with those who are hurt because they believe in you. Please be with the kids that don’t have mommies and daddies. I love you Jesus. Amen.”
We pray that you will remain in Christ Jesus unto the end just as the Son abides in the Father. May you bear much fruit and walk in obedience to Jesus all your days, the same as you followed Jesus’ model of baptism as a public witness of your faith in Christ.
Yesterday was your first official day of Kindergarten. The good news is, there was no crying for me at the door (nor I for you) because with Classical Conversations, like Ruth with Naomi, where you go I go! I look forward to continuing to teach you at home, and I am so excited about all that we will learn in this next year. I am grateful to observe first-hand how God is preparing you to be able to defend the hope that you have in Christ. (1 Peter 3:15)
Dearest Emily, as with all new beginnings we focus on the good and neglect to remember that there will be days of struggle and pain ahead. The good news is, He has promised us joy in the end. Take heart, Emily, for in all your days and in all your ways, Christ Jesus is with you, He has already overcome the world. He is with you in each new beginning until the day of the new heaven and new earth. (John 16)
I love you my precious princess and sister in Christ,
Mom
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