A Little Boy's Heart (Part II)

See Part One.

That was all that was said that day in the barn but the boy's story does not end there. Two years later, the father unexpectedly died from a heart attack. The boy did not shed a single tear at the funeral, or at any time during that period.

So the boy grew up and took a profession of his own. He married and had several wonderful children. Raised as a Christian, the boy eventually grew into a man that was devoted to his job, his family and his church. Dependable and sure, this was the kind of man that everyone could rely on. His word was as good as any promise and he was always punctual and prepared.

There was just one problem with this man. Everyone was aware of it but his family knew it best of all. His children knew that he loved them but those words never left his mouth. His wife knew that he cared for her but it had been a long time since he really opened himself up to her. There was this wall of armour around the man.

He was a good person with honest motivations and he was actively involved in many things with many people. He just wasn't an emotional guy, that's all. Loving words, simple hugs, meaningful intimacy...these things may have been there, but they were buried quite deep. Such was life for the family, and the wife and kids were all quite close regardless. The man wasn't going to change and it really wasn't such an issue in most cases.

Time went on and the kids grew to adulthood. The man was still as involved in church and family life as he had ever been but his retirement was coming soon and he was looking forward to it. At some point around here, the man's church introduced a new weekend seminar.

This seminar was supposed to talk about blessings in our lives. The man wasn't keen to go but his wife insisted on it and he said that he was open to whatever God had for him, so off they went. The seminar was set up to include videos, breaks for meals and coffee, and prayer in small groups. Each twenty-minute video would outline the importance of blessing in our lives. It would explain how our childhoods and past experiences could effect the people that we become, either negatively or positively.

During this intensive weekend, he was praying in one of the small groups. The men in this group were discussing past experiences, particularly those major life events that seemed to loom in each person's mind. This story came out in that setting and specific prayer was directed towards it. With the Holy Spirit's guidance and by seeking for healing through Jesus Christ, the man was able to address this story in his life.

Freedom. The man's life was never the same again. Remembering his story about the lamb no longer made him feel like that little kid again. He said that he had not been able to cry since that time and he was finally able to cry again. All of sudden, it's like the floodgates were opened and emotions came pouring out. He was no longer just the stern older man. He had become a smiling windmill of energy, encouraging everyone and almost jumping around at times.

There was a new joy in his life, a new passion for his relationships, and new love for God. It was astounding. His family hardly knew what to do with him. In fact, they hardly even knew who this man was anymore. He wrote letters to each of them and repeatedly expressed those three precious words, "I love you." He contacted his own siblings and opened up to them as he never had before. Even though they had gone through the same seminar and understood the healing power of Christ, this was still an awful lot to take in. The man was deeply changed and, as a result, so was his family.

This is just one story that I have heard. My dad can relate numerous others that are equally amazing and heartfelt and miraculous. I can relate some of my own, though nothing on that kind of scale. Some of friends have their own stories about freedom and healing in Christ. This kind of thing just blows me away and leaves me in awe. I can't get enough of these stories.