You wouldn't believe this moment if you saw it - I promise. I know because I felt like it was either a dream or a nightmare - can't decide which one!
Let's start with the nightmare part: We've all been there -- public place, baby, poop all the way up the back (threatening to touch the hairline if it hadn't been caught in just the nick of time). Yep- disgusting.
We were in Madison at the Boston store when the explosion began. I turned to my mom, who was trying on shoes, and said, "Better go - stinky here needs to be changed." Sensing that this was gonna be good, daughter number one came along to join in the fun.
Somewhere between unpacking my poop-bomb and wondering if I have enough wipes, Annessa says, "Mom, was I ever baptized? Payton had show-and-tell today, and she told us about her baptism."
Now, about baptism. I understand that it's a very sensitive subject for some people. Rich and I do the whole "Believer's Baptism" where you choose to express your faith and obey God AFTER you have surrendered your life to Him and His will. (After all, Jesus was baptized as an adult, as was everyone else in the Bible. But I digress.....) If this is against everything you believe in, that's okay. I understand. Just keep reading. It gets good, I promise.
This was one of those moments I had imagined having with her in front of a fire or on a picnic or something dreamy like that. But. Of course. Reality doesn't work the way our minds picture it. So. I took a deep breath (of stinky air) and began to explain this to Annessa.
"Well, I believe in God mom. Can I be baptized?"
"Hmmm....Do you know what sin is?"
"No."
"Sin is when we do something that we know is wrong, but we do it anyway. We all sin. Like everyday." I said, wondering if that was an acceptable answer for a five-year-old. Suddenly all of the "churchy" people flashed before my eyes, and I hoped this explanation was biblically correct.
Now, let's not forget the poop. Oh, the poop. And while your at it, add some crying to that mental movie you have going on.
"So, in order to be baptized," I continued above the desperate cries from daughter number two to get me to stop holding her legs in air and wiping her back with a cold wipe. I mean come on, doesn't everyone like the warm feeling of poop on their backs? "You have to believe that God sent his son, Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. That means we can go to Heaven someday and be with God because Jesus helped us."
Holy crap. Literally. I was preaching the gospel in the midst of what was quite possibly the worst crap Elaina had ever taken.
"I believe that mom. I do."
Music to my ears. My child confessing her faith to me... How blessed am I? Seriously?
Now, is this something she really believes or does she "just" want to go through the pomp and circumstance of a baptism? I kinda think it's a little of both. Either way, it's moments like these that, as a mom, I know I was put on earth to have. What could be better than sharing Jesus' love with your child?
Expect maybe if it didn't involve a boat load of crap.
Let's start with the nightmare part: We've all been there -- public place, baby, poop all the way up the back (threatening to touch the hairline if it hadn't been caught in just the nick of time). Yep- disgusting.
We were in Madison at the Boston store when the explosion began. I turned to my mom, who was trying on shoes, and said, "Better go - stinky here needs to be changed." Sensing that this was gonna be good, daughter number one came along to join in the fun.
Somewhere between unpacking my poop-bomb and wondering if I have enough wipes, Annessa says, "Mom, was I ever baptized? Payton had show-and-tell today, and she told us about her baptism."
Now, about baptism. I understand that it's a very sensitive subject for some people. Rich and I do the whole "Believer's Baptism" where you choose to express your faith and obey God AFTER you have surrendered your life to Him and His will. (After all, Jesus was baptized as an adult, as was everyone else in the Bible. But I digress.....) If this is against everything you believe in, that's okay. I understand. Just keep reading. It gets good, I promise.
This was one of those moments I had imagined having with her in front of a fire or on a picnic or something dreamy like that. But. Of course. Reality doesn't work the way our minds picture it. So. I took a deep breath (of stinky air) and began to explain this to Annessa.
"Well, I believe in God mom. Can I be baptized?"
"Hmmm....Do you know what sin is?"
"No."
"Sin is when we do something that we know is wrong, but we do it anyway. We all sin. Like everyday." I said, wondering if that was an acceptable answer for a five-year-old. Suddenly all of the "churchy" people flashed before my eyes, and I hoped this explanation was biblically correct.
Now, let's not forget the poop. Oh, the poop. And while your at it, add some crying to that mental movie you have going on.
"So, in order to be baptized," I continued above the desperate cries from daughter number two to get me to stop holding her legs in air and wiping her back with a cold wipe. I mean come on, doesn't everyone like the warm feeling of poop on their backs? "You have to believe that God sent his son, Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. That means we can go to Heaven someday and be with God because Jesus helped us."
Holy crap. Literally. I was preaching the gospel in the midst of what was quite possibly the worst crap Elaina had ever taken.
"I believe that mom. I do."
Music to my ears. My child confessing her faith to me... How blessed am I? Seriously?
Now, is this something she really believes or does she "just" want to go through the pomp and circumstance of a baptism? I kinda think it's a little of both. Either way, it's moments like these that, as a mom, I know I was put on earth to have. What could be better than sharing Jesus' love with your child?
Expect maybe if it didn't involve a boat load of crap.
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