Cussing Laughingly and Baptisms

...Laugh when you are tempted to cuss...

Some recently solicited advice from a mentor in the faith. Good advice.

Recently, we had both of our girls baptized, both of whom are considerably older than when most Presbyterians baptize their infant children.

Our daughters stayed with us during worship. They actively participated in the only way they knew how. The older one was in the back rehearsing her run-in-circles/spin-in-circles routine. The younger was practicing grabbing and pulling everything within reach.

Laugh. Well at least they are getting it out of their system now...

We received the cue to come forward, the eldest adamantly protested. Then when she realized she must go on stage, she stubbornly refused to be carried. When we got to the stage she had either a melt-down or a Pauline conversion.

Laugh.

Our youngest got baptized first. The water fell on her head, dripping down blessing and lavishing promise. I say a quick prayer of thanksgiving silently.

Next it was time for the eldest. I smiled in anticipation of the next few minutes. I wondered if the Pastor had a squirt gun hidden so in case she took off running he could "quick draw," firing a head shot of blessing and promise before she was out of range.

He reached over and picked her up; she immediately relaxed and calmed down. She received the sacrament and stayed in the Pastor's arms quietly during the prayer. It was a wonderful moment. A theologian wrote, "In baptism itself we are neither promising God that we will do something, nor are we asking God to do something, we are watching him do something." In the midst of God doing something, a father's pride was shattered and His daughter was brought into the covenant community. We thank God for doing a twofold-something in this family through the simple act of baptism. God revealed that His blessings, promises, and Gospel are greater than the actions of misbehaved children and their misdirected parents.

In the midst of wanting to cuss, we laugh.