
While we have always worked hard to help him understand the word and God's desire to know him, we felt like he didn't want to be told what he should do and so he often dragged his feet in terms of building his own love of God. Then, last night the most wonderful thing happened that gave me joy and hope for the future with him like I have never had before.
I was up working on some stuff and he came up from his bedroom. It was just he and I awake. He said he had been woken up by hearing someone say his name. He said he thinks it was Jesus. He came upstairs to tell me something he had said to some of his soccer teammates back in August at a tournament. He spoke unkindly to them out of frustration that they were not even trying hard and he had been carrying that guilt. Then he compared that experience to the "war" that Grandpa's box discusses. He said he knew Satan was winning in the war by his having been unkind and not telling me about it. He didn't want to have Satan win. He knew Jesus needed him to do the right thing in the war.
We talked about what had said, how he was very different in terms of following the Lord back in August and how now he realizes it is up to him to build that relationship, not his mom and dad. He has matured in the few short months of school and this guide. I am blessed and praise God for leading the writing of this Guide!
Blessings to all of you! And, when you feel like you are struggling, just hang in there.

Deb