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Enter through the narrow gate…For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13, 14

Yesterday, my grandson said something that stung. He called me closed minded. That upset me because I’m not closed minded. So I prayed about it and the Lord reminded me of an incident that happened back in the ‘70’s. I had to look up the Scripture.

My husband, Jerry, and I were refurbishing a hundred year old house in Utah. His oldest daughter, Anne, and her husband, Greg, were spending the summer helping us. Anne was misguided in her beliefs regarding her Salvation and Greg was a Pantheist, universe and God is equivalent, or Atheism for nature lovers. I was looking forward to sharing the saving grace of Christ. For the first time, I was feeling the sting of loved ones rejecting Jesus. I was not popular.

I was on the ladder, scraping the 6 coats of paint off the 3ft thick window casements listening to Greg tell me about his life experiences and why he chose to believe in Pantheism. He was an ex-Green Beret who had what he believed to be a “born again” experience on the battlefield in Vietnam. My heart broke for this sweet young man who had seen such horror. I felt he was ready to hear what being “born again” really meant. After sharing the love story of Jesus, I was unprepared for his response.

Full of rage, he shouted at me from below, “You are the most narrow-minded person I have ever had the misfortune to meet. You are like a stupid old horse with blinders on to keep it on the road and at the end of that road all you can see is this man, Jesus!” My gut wrenched and hot tears rolled down my face as I fought back the anger of being spoken to so disrespectfully. In a flash, I suddenly realized I had succeeded. I climbed down the ladder, embraced him and said, “Thank you, Greg. No one has ever paid me a higher compliment. This man at the end of that road is indeed my Savior.”

Sometimes our Lord is incredibly prompt in answering prayer. This was one of those times. I explained to my grandson the difference between being closed-minded and narrow-minded and was able to read Matthew 7:13 & 14 to him.
The narrow road can be difficult, but remember who waits at the end of it. Telling others the great love story is worth every insult we may receive. Let the tears flow! I have since learned Jerry is born again.

Written by
JoAnn Shelton