Act Like You Wanna GO!

 My first nephew was born when I was 13 years old and he was so special.  My brother is 12 years older than me and this was his 1st child, 1st grandson to carry on our family name in that generation, and I loved him from the start.  I don't especially remember being all about him much until he was a toddler.  

At the ripe old age of 15 or so, I was tasked with babysitting my nephew during the day while my brother and sister-in-law worked in their peach orchard.  Early mornings, hard work, long hours.  I dodged a bullet!  I could babysit in the air conditioning and avoid the sweaty duty of "basket-girl" for the whole summer.  Sign me up!  (The term "basket-girl" just meant I wasn't old enough or big enough to really be effective at picking the peaches but I could deliver empty baskets and retrieve full ones out to the edge of the rows.)

Been there, done that, didn't get a t-shirt, No, thank you!

Robby, my sweet nephew, was about 18 months old that summer and we had the best summer together.  Other adventures to share later...

This was the beginning of a fun life-long journey that we are still on to this day.

Robby was a cotton-topped cutie pie.  My high school friends all loved him and he idolized my high school, football player boyfriend and was totally infatuated with my best friend.  I honestly think he still might have a little torch for her to this day.  Now, remember the age difference.  13 years apart.

Robby was always welcome around me and my friends.  He was so cute, adorable, and well-behaved.  

Robby spent a lot of time at my parents' home.  We lived very close together.  It was only natural that if his parents were working or busy, Robby just hung out at our house.  

When I was a senior I was always very busy.  Basketball, friends, yearbook staff, doing all those senior year things.  Rushing home after school one day, late in my senior year, and I changed clothes, told Mom I was going to the basketball tournament in about an hour, ate supper and left.  I invited Robby to come with me reminding him that all my friends would love to see him but he wavered on his decision whether to go along or not.

I began to leave and asked Robby one last time if he wanted to go, he ignored me, didn't hear me, or was just undecided.  For whatever reason, he seemed uninterested and I left.

When I arrived home after the game, my Mom told me the drama that had played out literally as I backed out of the driveway.  Remember, this is back in 1988, no cellphones.

When Robby realized that I was leaving and he was missing out, he cried and banged on the glass front door.  "I wanna go!  I wanna go!"  My Mom reassured me that she was able to calm him down, distract him, and all was well.  It was no big deal.  He would definitely make a better decision next time and not be left behind.

I have thought about this very incident many times as an adult.  

Why do we sometimes forget to act like we really do wanna go?  I knew Robby usually wanted to go with me but that day he wasn't interested, so I left.  

How many times do I act like I really don't wanna go to be with Jesus?  

Do you think He ever feels like, Oh, Mmmm, OK, that's weird.  I thought she wanted to go, I thought she wanted to be with me.  How many times have I let the world crowd in on me and I lose sight of where I really wanna go?

I guess my message in this writing is to say, ACT LIKE YOU WANNA GO!!!

It's a balance.  Don't be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good, but always keep your eyes and soul on going home!   We are going someday and I want to take as many people as I can with me.  I just don't want to get loaded down with 'this" life and miss out on the 'best' life.

Robby is now one of my dearest friends and a close confidant.  I would trust him with my life and my deepest secrets.  He knows all about my 'warts' and 'ugly' and loves me anyway.  More of a brother than a nephew.  I have other nephews but I think they all know that Robby is different to me.

Sorry, not sorry!

I tried to find a scripture to fit this writing.....There is no perfect one for this.

I guess it's more of a sentiment of...keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the sky, help those around you but never forget to...

ACT LIKE YOU WANNA GO !!!

More adventures with Robby to come!

Yes, it is that simple...

I was 39 years old and working a very stressful and demanding job.  That Monday, all day, my heart was miles away at church camp.  My 8 year old daughter was attending church camp for the first time.  I had no reason to worry, my mom was also there on campus to oversee, help, or whatever with my daughter.  Not that my girl ever needed that at all!  I always instilled in my daughter a strong sense of independence which she wholly embraced, probably naturally, but also encouraged by me every step of her life.  My heart was there because I simply wanted to be there. At the last minute on Monday afternoon, I took Tuesday off, rushed home, packed a bag, called church camp and arranged to spend the night on Monday and spend Tuesday all day with my baby girl.  Leaving work late, packing, traffic, etc. caused me to arrive at church camp near the end of their evening worship service.  I crept up towards the doors at the front of the gym where the nightly worship services were held.  I did not want to interrupt and I could see through the skinny glass window in the door that they were wrapping up the service.  I patiently waited just outside the door knowing that soon the girls would come pouring out those doors to go to their dorm to change clothes in order to participate in whatever after service activities awaited them that night.  I was so excited!  I was here!  I was going to get to spend at least 24 hours with my daughter, my mom, and so many friends that I had known for years.  Yes, a respite from a whirlwind life of deadlines, budgets, accounts, and tasks at work.  Yay for me!!!

The service was dismissed and as expected, here come the girls!  My daughter, Shelby, came busting out those doors and happily greeted me, "Hey Momma! I got saved tonight!"  She hugged me and said, "I'll be back" and ran off to the dorm with her friends.  I entered the gym/sanctuary and was blown away by emotion.  This was a BIG moment!  My baby was saved!  

She had left me in shambles.  I was overjoyed at her decision but the simplicity of her decision overwhelmed me.  I was crying tears of joy over her decision but pondered how simple she made it sound.  She had believed, she had trusted Jesus as her Savior, and she was saved.  Her faith was solid.  Her belief was real.  Her acceptance of Him was complete.  All in one simple act of faith and in one moment of surrender.  

Why do we complicate salvation to the point that people we are trying to reach feel it is impossible?

God loves each and every human he ever created and it is as simple as that child's faith, years ago, just let go!  Believe! Accept! Surrender!  NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

My adult friends at camp understood my bewilderment and after a while we were able to laugh about how her simple acceptance threw me off kilter for a little while.

I was raised in church and I accepted at a young age but years of judgement, guilt, and shame piled on me by other people had left me feeling less than.  I realized and I am often reminded of that little girl and her faith that night.  People did not save me, Jesus did!

NEVER let others make you feel like you are not worthy, deserving, or enough.  You are!  Why?  God says, "You are!"  THE END

I've heard all the sermons, acronyms, catch phrases, etc.

However, it is very simple.  Accept you are a sinner, Believe Jesus can save you, Confess your sins. 

Salvation is not earned.  It is simply received/accepted by you.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."  Acts 16:31

Don't let others confuse you or complicate this matter.  It is so simple.

I truly pray that this blesses you in some little way and you will pass this message along.

Love and Prayers!