Four baptisms on Sunday,
the Feast of All Saints.
What an honor
to witness the tenderness
as parents and siblings stand united,
as priests touch with water and oil,
as parish kids gather around to watch.
And then, to reaffirm our own vows!
Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship...?
Will you persevere in resisting evil...?
Will you proclaim...the Good News...?
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons...?
Will you strive for justice and peace...?
Yes, yes, I will...
I will, with God's help,
since I can do it no other way.
And then the most remarkable thing,
which I have missed every other time through this process,
these simple words in the final prayer:
Heavenly Father...give them...
the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.
The gift of joy and wonder!
Yes, yes, that:
when looking into a parent's eyes,
when gazing up at the nighttime sky,
when knowing how much they are loved,
when watching wind-blown clouds and trees,
when snuggling on the couch as a storm rages outside,
when standing for the first time at the edge of the ocean,
when tasting a warm-from-the-oven cookie,
when laughing with friends and family...
You get the idea.
May I, today,
know the gift of joy and wonder.
Joy and wonder!
Text and image © 2019 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
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