"Mommy, I'm Ready to Die."

Is it possible that these words..."Mommy, I'm ready to die."...could ever be a good thing?!?!

After returning home from youth group Sunday night, Laurie told me that the kids were huddling in the playroom having a "very serious" discussion.  She informed me that Gabbie and Luke had emerged from the room to tell her how sorry they were for all the disrespectful things they had done.  They also had apologized to Jonah for being mean and yelling at him about "stuff".  According to Laurie, the kids really beamed with excitement about the new leaf they had turned over.  She went on to tell me about how Luke, in particularly, had told her that he was "ready to die" because he "really wanted to be with Jesus".  Apparently, Gabbie had even corrected Luke at one point when she matter-of-factly stated that "Daddy would be the first to go" (really?!?!).

"Mommy, I'm ready to die."  Wow, sort of sounds "Pauline", doesn't it?  "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain...I am hard pressed between the two.  My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (see Philippians 1:21-26).  I took some time the next morning to share with Luke how proud I am that his love for Jesus is growing so strong.  I also told him that God still had a special plan for his life and that he needed to love God here on earth until Daddy had first kicked the bucket!  It's pretty incredible when your four-year-old "gets" something as heavy as heavenly homesickness.

I've been thinking and reading a lot about our hope as believers in Jesus Christ.  All over the pages of the New Testament we are called to "set our minds heavenly things" (Col. 3:1-4) and to "wait for our blessed hope" (Titus 2:11-14).  I am especially taken back by the connection of "present faith" (leading to faithful service for God) and "future hope" (yearning for the return of Christ) found in Paul's Thessalonian correspondence.  Is my love for Jesus creating a restlessness for heaven?  Do I long to depart to be with the Lord?  Or, am I perfectly content with the shallow stuff of this earth?  Yeah, it can sound a little creepy and morbid to hear the phrase "I'm ready to die", especially coming from a little guy like Luke.  But, to me, there is something beautiful and holy (and biblical) in his words to Laurie the other night.

Thanks, little buddy, for being such a good boy.  You are so loved by God, your mommy, and daddy.  Believe in Jesus and you don't have to wait until after you die to have a piece of heaven, because heaven (Jesus) will come into your heart.

Are you "ready to die"?  That's a pretty important question to have answered.  If you aren't quite sure, please contact me and I'd love to share with you the wonderful news to give you hope and peace with God.