Sunday, May 17, 2015

When Your 10 Year Old Sweetheart Decides to Be Baptized

The phone rings {or was it an email?} and we get the most delightful news that our tender gentle-spirited ten year old granddaughter has decided to be baptized.

In five days.

So we put the finishing touches on the house as we get it ready to sell, tie up loose ends here and there, and shift around a few plans.  After this past week's rather windswept breathless days, we pack our bags and jump into the car for the five hour trek to Annapolis.

For this, the sacred, matters.

It's right up there with the day she was born.  And her someday, far off wedding.  It's that earth shaking, that meaningful, that precious.  Yes it is.

This, her decision to honor to Christ by letting everyone know in a very public way, that her life belongs to Him and Him alone.


I will remember this evening always, surrounded by family and many friends, eager little cousins straining to catch every glimpse of water sloshing over the side of the tank.  Her story of salvation read aloud, her parents, brothers, and sisters gathered 'round the sacred pool, her dad asking her the most meaningful of questions before he oh-so-gently lowers her under the water and raises her up, symbolizing sin put to death, new spiritual life come to dwell forever.


We give her the Bible that was given to me in 8th grade, our own words of love side-by-side with the original inscription.


And all I can do is thank God for this sacred mercy, to see yet one more granddaughter proclaim her forever love for Jesus in a pool of warm water.

The tears pool in my own eyes as I smile with a peaceful joy, as I release another huge sigh of gratitude.

And for the millionth time this week, I can't help but praise the God I adore, whose blessings never seem to come to an end.






* Yes, Kathryn's our sweet girl who created that little video that just about went viral around here, the one welcoming her six month old brother Tyler home from the hospital for the very first time ...

*  Sharing joy with Kelly  .  Mary  .  Holley  .  Lyli  .   Susan

46 comments:

  1. What a celebration! Wish we could have been there - it is exciting to see her love for God and the people He has created!!

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    1. She's simply beautiful. Inside and out!

      I'm so grateful ...

      ;-}

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  2. Important memories and as you state: "For this, the sacred matters." It always trumps trite things (like moving).

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    1. Absolutely, Bill. Walking right into all that's sacred puts everything else back into perspective.

      Like moving. Things. Possessions.

      You said it well, friend ...

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  3. What an awesome way to start my Monday! with such wonderful news! So thankful she has a role model like you to "grow her up in the Lord." Have a blessed week, Linda - you'll be in my prayers.

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    1. She's surrounded by prayer warriors and spiritual mentors and family who models Jesus as best we can {although certainly not perfectly!!}

      There's nothing like grandchildren to get you on your knees ... and keep ya there!

      Thanks for sharing our joy, June!

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  4. What a delightful and precious way to recognize the event. Suggestion: You have other grandchildren to commemorate in the future. Keep a Bible by your bed to read and annotate and then when the next grandchild is baptized then give them that Bible. Start all over again. Each grandchild will get a piece of your heart - your heart captured by the Living God. What a precious legacy you are leaving for each and everyone of them. Yours in Him, Chris~

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    1. I love this passing on of well-used copies of God's Word to the next generation. 'Faith of our fathers' gets a whole new meaning, doesn't it!

      We've got a stack of Bibles from their grandparents and great-grandparents. And one by one, we are sharing them on these holy occasions. It just doesn't get better than this.

      Thanks for your super idea, Chris ... yes, I so want each of their hearts to be held in glorious captivity by the Living God!

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  5. Hi Linda! Your granddaughter is GLOWING in that photo with you... What a precious memory for you and for her. I'm so glad you could go on such short notice. What a blessing that your family is so close, both geographically and in spirit too. I know your being there meant so much.

    What a beautiful gift you gave her too. That bible with the note will be something she can treasure, and then pass along someday too. It just looks like such a day of grace! So happy for you :)
    Ceil

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    1. 'A day of grace!' Yes, once again you nailed it, Ceil. To see our children's children follow Christ is a gift beyond imagining. It's only His grace that causes such life change to happen, isn't it ...

      And she is such a sweetheart ... we all just glowed together through it all.

      God is so good ...

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  6. Hi Linda, what wonderful news! Congratulations to your family.

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    1. Thanks, friend! It was a weekend of joy ... and lots of driving!

      ;-}

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  7. Sweet post Linda...what a joy to be a part of the highlights of our Grandchildren lives. Blessings.

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    1. Betty, it just doesn't get better than this, does it. These are the golden moments, the ones we live for!

      ;-)

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  8. Beautiful!!! Thanks for letting us be a part of the celebration!!

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    1. Yep, I'm so glad to share the joy with this little community here ...

      ;-)

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  9. Linda,
    Oh, so precious to see you with your granddaughter...praying God guards her heart and for her faith to continue to grow strong...Thanks for sharing the joy with us :-)

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    1. Thank you for your benediction on her life, Dolly. Truly!

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  10. What a poignant and precious gift. Your granddaughter will treasure that Bible forever. Congratulations to her on her decision to be baptized!

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    1. I do believe she was just as excited as I was in the giving of it to her! What a celebration!

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  11. Linda, what a joyous occasion for your family! My 10-year-old daughter got baptized in January, and my husband's parents made the 11-hour trek from their home in North Dakota to be there for it. It was a complete surprise--we didn't know they were coming until they called us that morning to ask where the church was! It was a memorable day all around, much like yours was with your granddaughter. It's worth any shifting of plans that has to be done, isn't it? :-)

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    1. An 11 hour trek? Wow! I'm impressed ... alot of love prompts those kinds of decisions. And yes, you're so right, Lois. In this season, more than ever, family comes first. My friends have been understanding when I've had to back out of something ... and I am grateful for their flexibility and grace.

      A big shout-out to them this morning! And to your inlaws, too!

      ;-}

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  12. How sweet. I loved the pictures. I celebrate with you today! Cheering you on from the #RaRalinkup with Purposeful Faith.

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    1. Thanks for sharing a bit of the joy, Kelly! And thanks for the party you throw on Tuesdays. A good time is had by all!

      ;-}

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  13. God's blessings are magnified in every word you use to describe your granddaughter's decision to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. What a beautiful blessing. Thank you for sharing this moment with all of us and for the joy that filled you and your family. Love and hugs!

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    1. I am grateful. Pure and simple. He is so incredibly good.

      Amen!

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  14. Linda,
    What a sweet time to share in your granddaughter's baptism and to give her your Bible -- what a priceless gift and she will cherish it forever as it only becomes dearer to her! What an enormous blessing from God to standby as a beloved granddaughter follows him -- sweet, sweet and precious!!

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    1. I'm just crazy-in-love with all 7 of these little ones! Yep, I count them as one of God's biggest blessings in my life.

      We have enough family Bibles to give to each one of them when the time comes. {And enough vintage hymnals to sink a ship but that's another story for another day!}

      It's such a humble honor to pass on a well-used copy of God's Word to your own flesh and blood.

      This, the lamp to our feet, the light to our path ...

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  15. Watching my kids being baptized are truly the most joyous moments! I can't wait to see my future grand-babies make the same beautiful choice and commitment some day. Love the pictures! Thanks for sharing these precious moments, Linda. I was so touched to see that Bible. What an incredible and meaningful gift!

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    1. 2 grandchildren down into those deeply symbolic waters, 5 more to go. Only by His grace.

      Thanks for hearing my heart, friend! You always seem to ...

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  16. I'm just all smiles for you, friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment with us. Love you. xoxo

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  17. B E A U T I F U L! Simply beautiful.

    And for the millionth time this week, I can't help but praise the God I adore, whose blessings never seem to come to an end.

    Lovely.

    May I invite you to #DanceWithJesus at the Friday linkup? SusanBMead.com/blog-2. It would be an honor to have you join the dance.

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    1. Thanks for coming by and introducing yourself, Susan! You are welcome here ...

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  18. It is always such a wonderful experience to see your children, and yes grandchildren, walk in the faith. Congrats. Visiting from Coffee for Your Heart Link Up.

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    1. Amen! You said it all, Rebecca! I am grateful ...

      It truly is all His grace.

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  19. Congratulations! I was baptized as a baby but chose to get baptized again as an adult. It was a great day! How special that you got to support her on her very BIG day. :)

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    1. Your story is my husband's story, too. What a glory that day was, yes?

      I'm glad you're here, Laura ...

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  20. Thank you for sharing this wonderful moment, Linda!
    Beautiful.

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    1. Thank YOU for celebrating with our family, Donna!

      ;-}

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  21. Both of my best friends girls were baptized at age 10 (double digits!). The younger one was baptized last month, and since her Daddy is in heaven now, a group of us joined her at the water's edge to cheer her on. Afterwards, we went out to have a nice pancake breakfast. It was a sweet day.

    Loved reading about your sweet girl and seeing you both pictured together.

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    1. My eyes welled up hearing that her daddy wasn't right there to celebrate. But I'd like to think he was rejoicing in heaven with the angels and with Jesus, Himself.

      I know another sweet little girl, just about 10 years old, who was baptized in a creek near the family home just shortly before her own mama died after a decade's struggle with cancer.

      Sigh.

      So much of life is bittersweet, isn't it, Lyli. He understands ...

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  22. This is so awesome! Even when I don't know the person being baptized, I tear up. What a wonderful day!

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    1. Yep, I'm with you, Sarah. I always tear up. Those deepest spiritual things strike a chord oh-so-deep, don't they ...

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  23. And all God's people said, "amen". What a joyful event

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Welcome to the table, friend!

This is where we gather and hang out. I'd love for you to pull up a chair and jump right into the conversation. Or simply say 'hello.'

l'll be dropping in to visit you sometime soon ...

Linda

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