Inside Story: “Your Parents Should Be Very Proud of You”
My dog’s been shot!
Brayden* blurted out in tears to his friend Payton. Would you speak at his funeral?
Twelve-year-old Payton had never conducted a funeral, but wanting to help his friend, he agreed to do what he could. I planned the whole thing out,
he said. The dog is buried in my yard–Brayden and I dug his grave.
After Payton did the eulogy, the boys added the dog’s dish, collar, and squeaky toy before filling the grave.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
When Payton and his family first moved into the neighborhood, Payton befriended Brayden and learned about the struggles he was facing at home. I told him that I was a Christian and shared my beliefs with him,
said Payton, and then he told me,
I want to try that out!
Brayden began spending more time at Payton’s house and often spent the night–especially on Fridays, so he could go with Payton and his family to church the next day. Before long, Brayden’s cousin, Hunter, wanted to stay with Payton, too, So I was housing three people in my room,
Payton explained.
While Payton’s bedroom may be small, his heart is big. He befriended another neighbor, Wyatt, whose father committed suicide. At age 13, Wyatt had been kicked out of several public schools, and his mother didn’t know what to do with him. Payton spent time with Wyatt and invited him to come with him to Pathfinders and to church, along with the other boys, but Wyatt’s mother would not allow her son to join in.
Over the next three years Payton often shared his faith with Wyatt, and one day after hearing that they might be moving, Wyatt handed Payton and his sister, Stormy, a note. The note is so precious that Payton keeps it in the family safe.
Dear Payton and Stormy,
Before you move I want to thank you. When you first came I had lost my way. I stopped going to church and didn’t plan on coming back. When we became friends I was trying to act tough, but on the inside, I wanted to be more like you, Payton. When the hard times came and I lost my father, talking to you was a comfort. I learned about God through you. You were and still are a hero, inspiration, and role model to me. Your parents should be very proud of you, knowing that you helped me find Jesus.
*All names of neighborhood children have been changed.
(31)
It is so important to following the leading of the Holy Spirit regardless of your age. This young person allowed God to us him in a manner that had an impact on the lives of so many young people in his community. Jesus said that we should be like little children. Children are so humble that a hard heart is easily won whether we see it on the outside or not. I thank God that the Holy Spirit knows not age limits or genders.
REgina, quite true.
What a marvelous story of a young boy who gave his heart to Jesus Christ and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in his life. Sometimes it is the great influence of Christian parents that encourages a son to give his heart to Jesus Christ; but sometimes it is the wonderful love of a transformed child of God that leads his parents to Jesus Christ. Parents cannot do in a son what Payton has become. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. However, these few comments indicate a missing link in the story: the support of parents who love the Lord, and allowed or empowered Payton's room to be filled with the love of Jesus Christ, in personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and in making room for other brothers in the Kingdom of God. "There's plenty good room in my Father's Kingdom" couldn't have been expressed more vividly.
Pray for more Pentecost empowered Paytons in our neighborhoods, earth and Heaven.
Often as parents we underplay the role our children can and do play in reaching out and sharing the love of Christ to others. This story is an inspiration to many and we should encourage our children to be part of our outreach strategies to bring may souls to Christ.
Tecla, how can we do such a thing?
If the story is true as I think it was then the fruitful life of the boy was a mere reflection of the safe and loving situation of his home. If the boy grew up loving and caring as he did then he could not have done so had he not a loving and caring home. His parents i imagine were there for him and taught him constantly about Jesus so that the boy grew up becoming like Jesus. This is cause for joy not only for the good deeds of the boy but for the good parenting that he got at home. My congratulations to his parents for passing on to the child a Christlike countenance. May God bless them all and may God bless all who followed his story and were likewise blessed as I was.
I think this maybe what Jesus had in mind when He said that we must become as a child in order to see Heaven. Children's best friends are most often other children, regardless of ethnicity, gender, possessions or all the other things that we use to evaluate those that we come in contact with. This young man will have several stars in his crown for sure.
Often times we don't realize how much our lives are influencing others, no matter the age