Benny and I are going to be baptizing Max on Sunday and we are all VERY excited about it. He has a greater understanding of Jesus than I did when I was a teenager, and he’s 7. Max asked Jesus into his heart when he was three years old, then prayed for Jesus to be in his baby sister’s heart as well. Shortly after that he was regularly baptizing Elmo in our bathtub. This went on for weeks as he kept asking when he could be baptized and take communion. We kept telling him he needed to be a little older so he would understand better why we are baptized and take communion. He has mentioned it off and on since then. He and Benny have been reading scripture and talking about what it means, and we can’t think of any reason to keep putting him off. So the time has come and I can’t believe I get the privilege of baptizing my son.
Benny’s brother and his family are going to be in town this weekend, and we called his parents to let them know too. This is where the story gets interesting if not a little tense. The baptism will immediately follow our Sunday morning service. We assumed Benny’s parents would want to know, but wouldn’t come to Denver for the occasion. We wanted them to understand there would be no hard feelings if they didn’t come. You see, we were raised in an acappella church, and many who still attend believe it is wrong to worship with instruments. Obviously after reading my last post, you know where we stand on that issue. Benny’s parents do not share our views. At first they said they could just come for the baptism, now they’re planning on coming for the service as well. We were SHOCKED!
So now I have all of these conflicting emotions about Sunday. On one hand I want them to celebrate with us and not dampen the mood if they don’t agree with how we do church. On the other, it bothers me that my FIL will be going against his conscience by attending our service. I know this must be hard for him, and because I love him like I do, that makes me uncomfortable. I guess my wish is that they would come and worship…and believe that it IS worship even if it doesn’t look anything like how they normally worship. I can’t make them believe anything. But I LOVE singing with the band. I waited for so long to do what my band mates probably take for granted. God knows what a blessing it is for me, and that it blesses others too. So I hope it goes well on Sunday and I can be “normal” even with the added pressure of my in laws being extremely uncomfortable – which is their choice.
Please pray for the family dynamic on Sunday, and praise God for my little guy and the decision he has made. Who knows what good can come from all this? I’m looking forward to spending the day with family.
Wow! They grow up so fast. He’s one sharp little kid though! I’ll pray for him.
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I am so excited for you guys! Baptisims always make me cry! It is so much more special when the people who helped the one getting baptized make the decision, get to do the dunking too!. Make sure it takes LOL. I can’t wait to do that with Hannah; she is pretty close herself.
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I appreciate the time you put in this work or in this post. Although you have unique ideas, I really can’t agree with them. I’m sure there are better ways to walk through this bad situation. Not trying to flame or be stupid or anything .
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