March 27 – “Baptisms in the Ocean”

We had another big day to celebrate yesterday in the Kel Vaughan family.  Jachin and Micah were baptized in the Gulf of Mexico. 

After church Chris and I hurried home.  We were to be hosts for the big event, with our newly renovated back yard.  It was, by the way quite the big hit with the myriad of children that showed up.  Oh, I know not a single one of them noticed the paint job or the pavers we moved around or the trellises we adjusted or the dirt we swept or the extraneous matter we shifted to different planes of existence (read here put in the shed or the garage) or the dog poop we (read here Chris) picked up.  But I’m pretty sure they had a good time.  I understand one of the boys set his Mom straight when she mused as to how she just couldn’t understand why the kids liked to play in our back yard so much since there really isn’t anything there.  He jumped in with, “Because it’s fun, Mom.”  Come on, Mom.  Everybody knows Nana’s yard is fun, just because it’s Nana’s yard. 

Christina provided a crockpot full of pulled pork for sandwiches or tacos, and people started arriving a little before one.  Cailyn and her Mom were there (Daddy was working).  The Waco cousins were in a musical at their church, so they could be here.  There were cousins from Christina’s side of the family, though.  Also friends from their church and some Seasiders as well.  Their pastor and his wife even came.  Kel and Christina played a video they had made of each of the boys expressing why they were being baptized and in general expressing their faith in Jesus.  Very creative.  Simple, yet powerful.  They each said some words, then asked the grandparents in attendance to share as well.  Christina’s Mom fought back tears as she spoke.  Chris deferred to me, so I shared the specific blessings I had written for each of the boys.  Thank you, Christina, for the heads-up early on.

After lunch we headed out to the beach not far from the house.  The most difficult part was finding a place to park amid the hordes of tourists.  Once everyone gathered on the sand, Kel asked his pastor to pray, and then we headed out into the waves.  Micah went first.  He was shivering the most.  I stood on one side and Kel on the other and he went under.  Jachin is taller than both of us, so we hesitated before easing him under.  We wanted to wait for just the right moment – when a wave was coming.  That way he wouldn’t have as far to go down.  All worked well.  The deed is done.

Chris said Josiah told her that he is going to be baptized as well, just “not in the ocean.”  She asked him why and he replied, “Four reasons: 1. Crabs.  2.  Seaweed.  3.  Crabs.  4.  Waves.”  Well, it’s a well thought-out repudiation of the process, if nothing else. 

2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Father, thank you for Jachin and Micah and the step they took yesterday.  Help them continue to grow in you.  Amen.