Baptism Weekend

If I could do this life over again, I'd be sure to include your baptism weekend in it, Celia.

It was a sweet time, with kind people from your church and your big, extended family from both your Momma's and Daddy's sides celebrating with you.  There was lots of laughter and talking and eating.  And there was cake as far as the eye could see, one for your baptism and one for your birthday.

But, really, as someone from your church pointed out to me, you celebrated two birthdays in one weekend:  the traditional birthday remembering the day when you were introduced to the world and the birthday of your life in the church. And, even though your family will make a big deal out of the days when you are another year older, God will get more excited remembering the day you were baptized. 

See, you became part of His church on that day, not just part of this big world.  You became His own.  You were sealed by Him.  The Holy Spirit now resides in you, in a deep place that, over time, you will come back to when you need answers.  And, I pray, you will hear that voice speak to you, guiding you through time.  THAT is what your baptism is really, truly about.  It is your BIRTH into Christ's beloved group of people called The Church.

My desire for you is that you learn to love all the unlovely people and issues and things of The Church.  People aren't perfect so churches can't be either.  But, being around people who want to be better and want to leave the world a better place and commit to coming together regularly is a great place to be.  The people of the church are all striving to know Christ better, to sin less, and to help others be ready for Christ's return.  What a fantastic place to go!

I hope, in time, that you will learn to love The Church the way I do.  I hope we are together often enough that you'll remember spending time sitting with me in the pews of your church.  I pray, even when we aren't together for church, that you will go sit in those pews and learn everything you can about Christ.  I know He wants that for you.

I love you to the moon and back, sweet girl.  Happy Baptism Birthday!