Last spring, my friend D.H. spoke with the Poppa about being baptized.
It was her dream to be baptized in the Cranberry River. A place where
she found much soul comfort & peace. It was where her family camped
every summer and she loved being there. We tentatively made plans to
join them on a camping trip and incorporate the baptism as part of our
time together. However, summertime came & D. was not feeling well at
all. She just couldn't shake her symptoms & as a breast cancer
survivor, her doctors ordered several tests. The camping trip never
materialized, although she spoke often of being baptized in this certain
spot in the Cranberry River.
Early September, it was determined
that the cancer was back. This time she was given a timeline. She
bravely faced treatment with boldness. She was a fighter; her husband
& two teenage children were in the battle with her. It was fierce.
It was terrible. And it was heartbreaking.
In December, while
Hospice plans were being made. Her husband tearfully asked Chris to
baptize her. John remembered her dreams of being baptized in the
Cranberry River and his voice cracked with emotion when he realized this
was one of many dreams they had dreamed together that were not going to
come true.
My amazing brother-in-law and sister-in-law made
arrangements/drove the 2 hour drive to pick up a gallon jug filled with
water from the Cranberry River. (I am in awe of their selfless spirits
to do this. They truly gave over & beyond of themselves.)
I
was in the hospital, standing on one side of her bed, her sweet husband
on the other, when Chris opened the jug of water and lovingly sprinkled
her forehead with the Cranberry River. It was a holy moment as he
whispered, "In the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit, I
baptize you."
Her breathing was labored, her smile weak.
Just a few days later she woke up in the arms of Jesus.
~~~~~~~
Two
weeks ago, her two teenage children stood before our church family
& declared themselves followers of Christ. They gave testimony to
their desire to follow Him. As part of this testimony, they wanted to
share in believers baptism. And so, my husband brought them before our
baptistry pool to signify their commitment.
But
before they stepped into the pool, water from the same jug of Cranberry
River water used in their mom's hospital room was mixed in.
And I
cannot tell you how completely moving it was to hear the same words
spoken over them, "In the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy
Spirit, I baptize you."
I was undone.
It all seem to swirl together, this life and the next. Life everlasting.
Joining
with the church universal by giving witness to their new life in Christ
by being washed in the water. The same water which also gave witness to
their mother's commitment of following Jesus.
I witnessed their
baptism while my arms were wrapped around my 4 year old son. And I
prayed that just like my friend before me, my children would find
relationship with the God I know & love. That this life will be
joined by the next. Life everlasting.
