This morning was especially meaningful because our two youngest boys, Alex and Dennis got baptized. The Pastor asked our whole family to come up which made it all the more memorable.
Come time for Dennis to have water rubbed on his head, he would have nothing to do with it. He basically shared a few choice words with our Pastor all the while wiping to get the water off his head. The whole church was laughing at how cute Dennis was, which certainly brightened up the whole event even more! We all took it in stride including Alex who "behaved" like an angel when it was his turn.
Along with the boys' baptism certificates, they each got a book of bible stories. What an honor it is to raise our children to have a relationship with God. John and I will try our best.
I was blessed with individual presents from each of the kids, and a few of them gave me very thoughtfully written cards but this picture is pretty special too! I feel blessed!
18 inspiring thoughts:
so i have a question, which i am asking out of genuine curiosity. please take it as such - it is NOT criticism & i'm not trying to start a theological debate. just wondering what your view on this is. :-)
in most denominations of Christianity that do "infant" baptism (or in this case, small child baptism) or "Christening" as it is more often called, there is also Confirmation. this is something the person does at around 13 to "confirm" their baptism - making the vows their parents took their own.
personally, i was Christened as a baby, then Confirmed at 13.
then we became members of an independent Baptist church... i switched because that church was more in line with my PERSONAL beliefs about Jesus & what the Bible says.
so at 17, i decided to be baptized. actually, my sister & Mom decided to as well (they'd been Christened also, although never Confirmed), and we were all baptized together - one at a time, but standing in the water in front of our church together, and submerged one by one. that same day, our family joined our church.
anyway, the reason I INSISTED on being baptized at that point is that my belief is that it's something a person chooses to do as a sign of their faith & obedience. our church doesn't even allow anyone to be baptized until they have a meeting with our most senior pastor & can not only answer questions to clarify that they know what they're doing, but they have to express a personal desire to do so & state their reasons on their own. there isn't an "age limit" as such but those are the guidelines. when a baby is born or a child adopted, there is a dedication ceremony where the parent pledges to raise them in a Christ-centered family & keep them active in the church, and a prayer is said (called a blessing) and the church prays together.
which leads me back to the question i said i had...
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON BAPTIZING ALEX & DENNIS AT THIS AGE? WERE YOUR OTHER CHILDREN BAPTIZED YOUNG, OR AT ALL?
i hope you'll take the time to not only read this but answer it. i know you somewhat explained that you were going to have Alex & Dennis baptized, but i don't recall there being a whole lot written about it, and would like to know more about your personal beliefs & about your other children's status with baptism.
looking forward to it! :-)
- michelle
What a beautiful picture of you surrounded by all of your children. I hope that's being enlarged and framed.
Your picture is beautiful! Something to be very proud of and feel blessed by!
Happy Mother's Day!
Be Blessed,
Amy
Happy Mother's Day! Long time, not comment from me...But I've been checking in with you and your pending adoption!!
God bless,
Amy
LOVE that picture- you are very BLESSED!!!!! Beautiful :)
I love the photo of all of the kids and you especially because of the way they are all holding on to one another; it is very sweet.
Regarding infant or child baptism -I could argue either side of this one.... But, clearly, we set our children "on the road to God" and baptism celebrates the beginning of that journey. It does not indicate conversion, as it might in an adult, but direction. Does baptism make a difference? Well.... I have heard it asked, "Did it make a difference to you that you were born?" Of course we will all say yes; and yet we certainly had nothing whatsoever to do with that decision either.
And Confirmation, historically, was actually not our confirmation that we agreed with being baptized, but confirmation by the Bishop (successor to the apostles) of the Baptism, since Jesus had told the APOSTLES, themselves, to go baptize... Since people were being martyred for their faith, it was important that they be baptized, but the Bishops couldn't move fast enough - thus priests were allowed to baptize but the Bishops would need to confirm it. The idea that we are confirming it ourselves is a handy approach for a youth minister, but really is historically inaccurate. Orthodox children are baptized and confirmed in infancy. Different traditions all pointing in one direction - toward oneness with Him who saved us!
What a beautiful picture of you with the kids!
Happy Mother's Day to one amazing mom. What a beautiful photo of you and your precious children. I can't wait to see the newest little face in that pic next year.
God Bless,
Kathie
I love your picture will all your kids! What a great day!
Oops, I completely forgot it was mother's day in some parts of the world yesterday! Ours was a few months ago.
That picture is beautiful! Can't wait to see next year's with two more little Reeds!
What a great Mother's Day you had. That's a wonderful picture of you with the kids.
What an AWESOME picture, and what a wonderful day!!!
What a nice picture of you with all the kids.
We do baby dedication--thw twin's will be Aug 1 which is the next time our church does it, and then we do believer's baptism.
Your picture is beautiful.
What a beautiful picture!
Happy Mother's Day! I love that photo!
Wow, now THAT'S a Mothers Day picture!!!
Awesome.
And the two little boys look SO cute in their outfits :)
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOOOOVE the pic of you and all your children. You are a blessed mom.
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