For such a time as this!

There are defining moments in each of our lives--moments when all the hard work and undying effort give way to a feeling that it was all worth it. I had one of those moments this evening while spending "Mommy Night" with my youngest.

I am a Christian, and that defines me. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I do my best to become more like Him each day. And I'm a single mom to three, which often leaves me feeling overwhelmed and just plain outnumbered more times than not. But I have done one of the few things that I am absolutely sure of as I raise my children. I take them to church and I try to model a life that shows me as being in love with God and His servant.

"Mommy Night" was my creation out of a feeling of frustration when my children seemed to be acting out. Psychologists tell parents regularly that a child who does not get enough positive attention will seek negative attention in its place. I hate to agree with them, but this time they are right. Each child gets one night each week to "break the rules" and stay up 1/2 hour later with Mommy. In the past, this has been a time for playing games or reading with each other.

Starting this week, our church has started a once-monthly family program called "Kidstuf". It centers around the family and teaching and living Christian values/virtues. So all four of us sat on the carpeted floor of the Children's Center for thirty minutes, criss-cross-applesauce (translated into Mommy's legs were asleep about halfway in! LOL). This month's virtue is HONOR.

My youngest is only four, and that's a relatively BIG idea for a little guy, but this program is awesome. It comes with an at-home guide to keep the dialogue open, and with a few words substituted, we sat this evening and talked about HONOR: showing others that they have value to you.

In the middle of our conversation, he said to me that all the good guys go to heaven and all the bad guys "go down dare (putting downward)". I guided him to the fact that the Bible, God's word, tells us that none of us are "good enough" without Jesus to earn our way into heaven. I assured him that with Jesus, God loves all of us and wants us ALL to go to heaven, we just have to ask Jesus into our hearts.

You'll never guess what he said next!

"Can I say that to Jesus in my head?"

"We can say that right now, out loud, if you want to."

"I do. I want to go to heaven and see God."

"Do you want me to pray with you and ask Jesus to live in your heart?"

"Yes, Mommy."

Sigh. Of all the moments in my life that have made me proud, that have made me happy, that have made me anything. . .It is a time such as this that reassures me that I am doing okay raising my children!

Now, mind you, this is my youngest. I've said prayers with my oldest as well, and I'm hoping tomorrow night's "Mommy Time" with the "middle man" will illuminate whether he has asked Jesus into his heart too. But it was definitely for such a time as this that I was created!

Praise the Lord!