The beauty of a sunset. The laugh of a child. The smell of flowers. The feel of cotton. All these things can be described but not with any justice. To fully appreciate them you must live them. That being said…I want to try to explain an event last Sunday that’s been years in the making. God says that a day is a thousand years and a thousand years but a day. In a moment I saw the culmination of years of pain, prayers, doubts, fears, and love. As I watched my son step out in faith, I saw a final healing. As I listened to him share his testimony, I heard peace.

Over the last four years, I’ve watched Justin struggle to find who he is, doubt that he is loved, and search for acceptance. He tried to find value in relationships, work, and possessions…each one leaving him emptier and more broken than before. Three months ago, God brought two guys into Justin’s life, Solomon and Walker. The three of them began to seek God together. They turned their backs on the pursuits of the world and truly started looking to see what God had for them. In the last three months, I’ve seen more growth, wisdom, faith, and a confidence in Justin’s walk with God than I could ever explain. Sunday night he stood in front of the church and shared his testimony. The hurt, the loss, the pain…and the faithfulness of God through it all.

As I watched him, and his friends step out in faith and get baptized Sunday night I was speechless at the faithfulness of the God we serve. The answered prayers from a multitude of people who loved my son enough to pray for him and constantly bring him before the throne. As he knelt in the water, professed his faith, was laid back underwater, and then brought back up, a symbol of death and resurrection, I was taken back to the hospital room. Almost exactly a year ago, I watched the breath leave my son. I watched him turn blue and become unresponsive. I listened as the nurse called his name and rubbed his chest, no response. I watched as she checked for vitals, no pulse. I heard her sound the alarm for a code. The room swarmed with doctors, nurses, and equipment. He was surrounded. After what seemed like an eternity the nurse that was with me finally said, “We’ve got eyes momma! He’s looking for you!” I rushed over to the head of his bed. He was shaking, pale, and burning up. His eyes were opened but he wasn’t there. But he was alive. As he came out of the water Sunday night, I stepped forward to hug him. His eyes were shining, he was shaking from joy, and he was ALIVE! Not just physically breathing, but full of life! Christ had breathed His Spirit into Justin and he came to life. He was surrounded by friends and family, hugging him and cheers of celebration at the new life he’s committed to.

A year ago, I thought I had lost Justin to physical death. This year I got to see my son willingly surrender his life to Christ and become more alive than he’s ever been. Justin finished his testimony by stating, “I know the Lord loves me, and I love Him.” Most beautiful words spoken.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10