On Saturday, June 19, 2010, I witnessed a miracle. My son Guillermo Flores was baptized into Christ
! His decision to make Jesus the Lord of his life was actually the culmination of many decisions, small and big, made over the course of his 15 years.
About five years ago, our family moved to the Broward region from Miami. My husband Cel (Guillermo’s stepfather) and I decided to volunteer in the Middle School Ministry. We both figured that surrounding ourselves with families in our life situation provided a wealth of “parenting” resources – we could learn together and work with our children. We became convinced that if we did not get “in there” – fighting for him with prayer, using the scriptures and looking to God – the pull of the world would overpower him.
Another decision involved getting educated and connected. Every parenting class, every pre-teen/teen camp, every devotional, every baptism we heard about – we were there. Sometimes Guillermo visited his father in Miami, but he understood our decision, knowing that we would drive down to Miami, take him to the devotional, and drive him back to spend the rest of the weekend with his father. There were times when my son did not want to attend a church activity, so I decided to pick my battles. But I let him know that church was never negotiable. The decision to ask a brother in the church to mentor Guillermo was a blessing – my son had a new friend and a great example!
Some decisions caused embarrassment. My ex-husband (baptized after our divorce) abandoned his faith for a time. So, I sought advice about how to help my son deal with worldliness and impurity. Yes, it was awkward, but after a few talks we became closer and he had a deeper understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus.
Last year, my ex-husband, his wife and her daughter started visiting our church in Miami. Guess who invited him? Guillermo was so excited to see his dad eventually restored and his step-mom baptized this spring, realizing that God used him, even before he was a disciple, to make a difference in others’ lives!
I am still amazed that I stepped into the water, along with my ex-husband, and together we baptized our son. All I could see flashing before my eyes and heart were the many memories, prayers, hard times, struggles and miracles that God faithfully walked us through. Each decision helped pave the way for Guillermo’s decision – the most important one he will ever make – that Jesus is Lord!
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