Generating believers

3:28 Today's project was to pick up our grandsons from San Diego. Normally, we'd have had to drive all the way further south to Chula Vista, but my former daughter-in-law had a seminar in Old Town, so we met them at the WalMart off of Aero Drive at the north end of town. Adrian, 14, and Xavier, 12, have a districtwide fall break, so both high school and middle school have three weeks off. After giving Kippy some Mary Kay products she likes, as well as peppers from our garden, we drove off towards home.

We stopped in a shady part of a nice neighborhood to eat the excellent sandwiches, barbecue Kettle chips and peanut butter cookies we'd bought at Vons. Then we headed north with the local Christian station blaring "teenage" tunes. At any given time, however, one or the other had headphones on with music, or a handheld game, but they were listening as well. Adrian and Xavier accepted the Lord as younger kids, and they come with us to Calvary Chapel whenever they are here to visit. The principal of our church's school baptized them at Lake Perris a few years ago, with their aunties Heidi and Heather and their dad Sean present along with us.

In Acts 2:38, Peter exhorted the people of Jerusalem,

Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

I remember in 1980 when I was baptized as a new believer at Lake Perris, that being obedient to this command of scripture was another exciting adventure I was privileged to participate in as a member of the Body of Christ. Never did I picture the children who would follow in my footsteps, because Steve and I hadn't even begun dating yet! Years later, our son Sean was baptized at Yucaipa Regional Park, and then a few years later still, Kriss, Heidi, Heather and Steven chose the sacrament as well. All had a full understanding of the commitment they were making before they "took the plunge."

Adrian and Xavier have faced their parents' divorce, which thankfully was on amicable terms. They continue on in the Lord, and, being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, excel in school. Their good manners and consideration for others has won them commendation from teachers and peers. Last summer, they helped me at Vacation Bible School, actively participated ane encouraging the preschoolers. In past years they both attended VBS, and Adrian was a crew helper after he passed out of elementary grades. We've helped them attend youth retreats a few times also which they have really enjoyed. I can see their growth! And now we have joyfully found out that the attend Cornerstone Church in National City with neighbors who give them a ride!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it," Proverbs 22:6 says.

How delightful it is to be able to help form my grandchildren's character, too, because, as Peter said, "the promise is to your children, and to all who are afar off!"