Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS (don't write about the song) (05/14/15)
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TITLE: Train up a Child | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Gage
05/21/15 -
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“Come, on Kids wave your flags high for Jesus!”
A big kid stepped on my toes and I cried. Without missing a beat, she picked me up, comforted me, then back to marching and singing.
“We love Jesus, yes we do! We love Jesus, how about you?”
Every week in Sunday school we learned a different Bible story and marched same march because we were in ‘the Lord’s army’ as teacher would say.
The words rang in my heart and mind more than once in my life, but only from afar. Until the day I was brought back to the march.
I had attended all Christian schools until after graduating high school, when my parents hesitated but finally gave their blessing for me to attend a secular college. My football career would thrive along with my Christianity I had reasoned. The temptations of drugs and alcohol were everywhere. I put on my happy Christian face and carried my Bible. The simple words of, ‘I love Jesus yes I do. I Love Jesus how about you?’ would come to mind as I attempted to talk to college football teammates. They had little on their mind except the game. I graduated with honors, MVP and the Bible buried deep in the gym bag.
The big leagues would be different. My status and ability would get me an audience. It did. Yet my choice for ‘shout outs’ were all about the fame and money. In addition a lot of talk about scrambling for the ball, fabulous interceptions and the next female I would conquer.
That little boy that marched with flag raised high shouting, “I love Jesus yes I do...” was way too far off to hear.
Marriage seemed like it would be easy and was the right thing to do, since there was a baby on the way. But after 2 kids, easy never arrived. It was mostly uneasiness. Being the number one football commentator for a major network was more my style and took lots of time. The wife and kids settled in our suburban home while I commuted to the big city for work and whatever other pleasure suited me for the day. I worked later and later hours staying away from home as long as possible, even the weekends. Until the day that the Commander of the army called me back in line to march again.
One Sunday afternoon, my wife sent me a text picture of our children. ‘At Sunday school’ was the caption.
There they were, my own two children marching in a line. A crooked-chaotic line of 3 and 4 year-olds with flags raised high. The flags were made from straws and paper. I zoomed up and could just make out the little sticker of Jesus’ face on the flags.
Words came back to me loud and clear, “I love Jesus yes I do. I love Jesus, how about you?”
Grief and love overwhelmed me at the same time. I did love Jesus. In one miraculous moment, I literally felt all that I learned about Jesus move from my head to my heart. No, I DO love Jesus!
“Jesus, what have I done? What have I done with my life? How could I forget You?”
I fell to my knees and asked God’s forgiveness. Then I caught the last train and ran home to my wife and children.
"Yes, I love Jesus! I love Jesus too!”
In our living room, we got in a line, kids holding their flags high, Mom and Dad holding hands, singing, shouting and marching.
“We love Jesus, yes we do. We love Jesus, how about you?”
This time getting back in line to march was my choice and there I will choose to stay.
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prv 22:6
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So credible that I thought it was a personal experience until I saw your name. So tell us; are you - or are you not - a man named Linda????
But seriously, you have brought an age-old scriptural truth to life in a very readable manner. Congratulations on your HC.