Baptism Story

            Well, as carefully as we tried to ensure that Ca wouldn't feel scared or confused by her baptism, she was. For many weeks preceding the scheduled Sunday, we chatted with her (and the other three) about what baptism meant, why we were baptizing her, and what the logistics of the ceremony would actually include. We spoke cautiously at first, watching carefully for any sign that she was uncomfortable or confused or not interested. Seeing no problems, we scheduled a date, and as the date approached, continued to talk with her about it. Everything was just fine until about 30 minutes before it was time to leave for church on Sunday morning. Ca pulled me (E) aside and explained that she was scared of being baptized. I did a little internal freak out and then calmly asked what part she found scary - and learned that she was exclusively afraid of being at the front of church and having everyone look at her. (Thank you, Lord, for 13 months of language development!!!)

            We talked about how the Bible is true and it says that God is always with us. We talked about how I (and the whole family) would be with her the whole time. We talked about how the people who would be looking at her were part of her church family and loved her. She was still scared. I was praying for wisdom...we had waited so long to baptize her because we didn't want her to be confused or scared!

            In the early part of the church service, she began asking could we please not baptize her. She was so scared to have everyone looking at her. Of course, at that point, we couldn't reschedule discreetly. So I kept praying in her ear that she would not be afraid and I told her I could carry her. I expected her to hide against my shoulder.

            And then.... we went up front. She held her head up and looked out at her loving church family while B and I took our vows to pray with her and for her, to teach her the doctrines of our faith, and to encourage her to come to her own faith in Jesus. She stood confidently with her hand on the table next to our pastor while he put a handful of water on her. She smiled a little while he prayed and she dried her face with Daddy's bandana.

            As the congregation sang a song afterwards, I leaned over to my sweetie and commented that she didn't seem scared during the baptism. She acknowledged that she hadn't been.  When I pointed out that God had answered our prayers, she shared that she knew that He had been with her, and kept the promise in His word. She connected the dots that the Bible is true and we can trust what God says! I saw the eyes of her heart opened a bit. And I realized God's perfect timing in having us wait until she could really understand what was happening in her baptism.