Shad and I were just discussing today how amazed we are at how much Josh has grown up. Not just physically, but in maturity. Last month he told me, cautiously, that he wanted to bet baptized. As I tried to hide the tears welling up in my eyes, I hugged him. We were standing in the lobby at church when he told me this. As we were talking, his small group leader from his Sunday School class walked by. He flew past saying hello to Josh, then turned around and came back, he had something else to say to Josh. He asked him if he was ready to get baptized and Josh said, “I think so.” His teacher put his hand on Josh’s head and looked him in the eye and said, “You are one of my best students. You are always on task, you are the first one to the carpet, you raise your hand and answer questions, you always bring your bible and you are quick to look up verses in your bible. You are a role model to the other boys in our group. I think you would be setting a great example by going out there and getting baptized.” (Cue more tears.) The only thing holding him back was the idea of doing it in front of all the people. That pep talk was just what he needed. For the next four weeks he did not mention being nervous but only excited about his baptism.
Sunday was the big day. Most of our family came to watch him get baptized.
A couple of days before he told me that he thought getting baptized was like “being washed in Jesus’ love.” Nailed it. Right on the head.
Shad and I gave him a fancy watch for his baptism gift. He loves it. He loves numbers and time. I even caught him fiddling with it in the water when the pastors were praying over him. I think he was trying to see if it lit up under the water.
This is the lead pastor for the kids. He, also, has done nothing but encourage Josh in his walk with God. It is so special to have Godly men, outside of family, pour into my boy.
After his baptism we went back to our house and had a nacho party. Josh’s favorite food.
For the last 6 weeks or so, Josh has also been working hard on getting his hunter’s safety card. He has done 18 chapters online with a test at the end of each that he had to pass with an 80%. Then he had to do a comprehensive test at the end. 80 questions! He passed with an 81%. Finally, he got out of school early yesterday and Shad took him to a skills test. They did some review over what he learned online, then he got to go and actually show the teacher that he knew how to safely handle a gun. Then he got the shoot a shotgun. Josh proudly walked in the house with his card and his very own blaze orange vest (that he wore over his coat to school today. LOVE!).
Wow. It is so amazing to see how much this kid has grown up. Third grade has been huge year for him. His confidence level has grown exponentially. Shad said at the hunting class Josh would raise his hand and answer questions boldly and that the hands on part with the shot gun was no big deal to him. And at school, the kids is rocking it. Math, no big deal. Reading, easy. Science, loves it!
Josh, we are so proud of you. Keep up the great work! God has big plans for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment