Tonight I had one of the most amazing moments with Ryder to date. Though there are all kinds of new quotes and funny moments I've been gathering to share with you over the last week, those will have to wait until tomorrow while I record the moments I shared with him tonight.
Cole and Cora had just fallen asleep when I crawled into my bed with Ryder to read him an Easter story we found at our public library earlier that week. It told the Easter story through the eyes of Peter, one of Jesus' disciples. This book has 10 chapters (comprised of a few pages each and a picture) that tell the story of Jesus' betrayal, Peter's denial of Jesus, His death, Resurrection, and ends with Jesus forgiving Peter for denying him as He calls him to feed His sheep as told about in the scriptures.
I was really impressed with the way this author told such a powerful story in a very conversational tone that a 4 year old could actually grasp. Parts were a bit hard to explain but generated genuine questions from my son about the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus.
When we reached the part of the story when Jesus carried his cross to the hill and was nailed to it to die, I looked over at my boy and with his bottom lip quivering and hands near his face, he suddenly broke into tears...He held his face in his hands and was sobbing. Knowing why, I held him and cried too.
Once he calmed down a bit, I asked,
"Why are you sad, sweetie?"
"Nothing," he replied.
"It's okay," I said..."You can tell Mommy anything."
And then in a soft, teary whisper, while looking at the picture of Jesus on the cross he said,
"I just love Him so much."
At first I was worried that I had scared him with too much detail of Jesus' death, but once he spoke those words, I know the truth of Jesus' sacrifice for us had begun to sink into his heart. This is really the response we should all have and being with him as the seriousness of this truth became real to him was a gift I wouldn't trade for the world.
"I love Him too, Ry," I responded, "And He loves you so much...that's why he did what He did. Because He loves us."
We finished the story and celebrated and laughed as Jesus appeared 3 days later to the disciples, surprising them in the Upper Room, showing them He indeed had risen! Since this story was told through Peter's eyes, we got to read about how he felt when he realized he lied when people asked him if he knew Jesus. At the end, we finished our story reading about Jesus appearing to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He told them to throw their nets to the other side of the boat to catch fish, though they had been trying all night and had caught nothing. When they obeyed and caught a boat full of fish, Ryder laughed saying, "They caught, like, 152 fish!"
Then Jesus ate with them on the shore and asked Peter 3 times, "Simon, son of James...Do you love me?" Three times, Peter told Jesus that He indeed loved him. The shame he was carrying of his denial of Jesus days before suddenly melted away as he realized that 3 times he had denied knowing Jesus, and 3 times Jesus asked him if He loved Him. Through Jesus' prompting, Peter had been forgiven...redeemed! He had found freedom from his guilt while talking with his Savior.
Lord, this Easter, may we experience FREEDOM as we tell you how much you mean to us. I will never forget the look in Ryder's eyes, as he longingly stared into the eyes of the One he saw on the cross and said in a broken whisper..."I just love Him so much." What a beautiful response...may we respond to You this Easter with faith like a child. What you did can never be repayed, but when we respond to your sacrifice with hearts full of thankfulness and love, we make it all worth it. Thank you, Jesus...I just love you so much.
Tears are streaming down as I praise the Lord for a grandson whose heart is knit to the One who created him, died for him, and conquered death for him by rising again! Oh, the sweet, sweet love of Jesus.
Happy Easter!
Grammie
This brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful moment you were able to spend with your son. Thank for the reminder that we are just to love Him.
Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 18:3
Ryder has reminded us what this verse is all about.... may we all become like little children this Easter!
What a blessing it was to read this story! Thank you so much for sharing, Danice!
I love this post! What a powerful reminder to help us see Easter through fresh eyes.