forgiveness

The hurt cut deep. After all it was his nephew.
 

Emmanuel* was on the wrong road. Though raised in a Christian family, he decided to take a detour down a dead end road. Drugs cost him a place to stay when his parents discovered he was using at home. His uncle seemed his only hope, but he quickly messed that up too. While they were away, he stole a priceless family heirloom and a gun and hocked them both for drug money. Uncle Jamie* discovered the missing shotgun which started a search to see if other items were missing. And they were.
 

Rejection for any reason hurts.
 

Tech devices hadn’t made the scene, so we played Hide n Seek, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, dodge ball, football and baseball (in our yards), and put sheets over chairs for tents. Innocent activities keeping us active.
 

She walked into the room and said, “Dad, I just asked Jesus into my heart,” then turned and left.
 

I was excited and confused. Excited about her decision but confused over how she came to such a conclusion. She had heard me preach about it and teachers teach it. She had watched me model the life of a Jesus follower, but I had never talked to her. She was only a child-too young to make that decision.