Baptism

This Sunday I had the wonderful privilege to baptize (alongside my father-in-law) our son, Alexander and our daughter, Emma, our second born, but third in age order.  To date, this was definitely one of the most precious opportunities I have had.  Emma (age 10) has been asking to be baptized for about a year or so, but I just wasn't sure if she really understood the purpose of it and tried to get her to wait.  As I thought about her heart and the way I see her living out her faith not only at church, but at home and even at school, I began to feel that she really is as surrendered to the Lord as she can be at her age.  She seems to have a sensitivity to the Spirit and a selflessness that is fairly uncommon today.  I asked her why she wanted to be baptized and she said, "I just want everyone to know how much I love Jesus."  I believed that was truly her heart and as we talked about it, our son, Alexander said he'd "always" wanted to be baptized but that he was afraid to do the "talking part."  I asked him if he would feel more comfortable writing down his testimony and just reading it and he really thought that would make it easier.  

Alexander is our oldest (age 12) and first born.  He has been very instrumental in praying for our family and the kids that we would adopt.  Ever since he was a very small child, he has been very aware of spiritual matters and has asked MANY questions--MANY, MANY questions!   I have been so touched over the years by his openness to the calling that God had placed on our lives for children.  It seemed that every time we had foster children, he lost something very sentimental to him because of their destructiveness, but every time they would leave, he asked when we were going to get more kids.  He has been a wonderful example to all of our children and the best big brother that I could ever imagine.  Of course, neither of these two are perfect, but it has been an honor to be their mother and watch them grow in the Lord over the years.  I am confident that both of them will actively serve the Lord in some way as adults.

The baptism was a beautiful expression of Alexander & Emma's love for the Lord and it was also a beautiful expression of the tremendous heritage that all of our children have.  My parents, David's parents, and both sets of great-grandparents came to witness the baptism and stand up in faith with us, their parents.  What a wonderful blessing that was!  Besides this, my father-in-law (also a pastor) not only performed the baptism with me, but was asked by our pastor to assist in distributing communion.  In one service, he was able to baptize two of his grandkids alongside his daughter-in-law, and serve communion to both of his sets of parents, my parents, and one of his son's entire family.  What a precious evening!  I am so thankful for the heritage of faithfulness our children have.  It is truly priceless!