He Did It!!!

Today was the big day!  The day we have been preparing for, for months.  The day that I have fretted over and offered prayers for...Today was John's baptism day!

 

We have been talking with him for months about baptism, what it means, what will happen that day, etc. John knew that when he turned 8 he would be getting baptized.  He understood that part so well that as we were having birthday cake on his birthday he asked, "When do I get baptized?"

He had to wait a couple more weeks, but I took his question as a good sign that maybe he was finally over being scared about the water and was looking forward to it.  This past week he has been talking about getting baptized and everyday he has been asking me, "When is my baptism?"  He has let everyone know that he was getting baptized on Saturday and inviting them to come.

When we arrived at the church this morning he immedietly went to the font and peeked through the glass to see the water.  Before the service I was out in the hallway with Jacob for a few minutes.  When I peeked in the room this is what I saw . . .

He was so enthralled! 

 

The baptismal service was short and simple. When it came time for the baptismal ordinance John readily joined Paul in the water, giggling a bit.  He giggled from the end of the baptismal prayer until he went under the water.  It was the giggle of innocence.  I will always treasure that memory. He even went under the water in traditional fashion without goggles on. (Up until this week he refused to lean his head back in the water.  We thought he was going to have to go forward into the water.  Also, until today he has not wanted to put his face under the water without his goggles on). 

 

I asked John later in the day how he felt when he got in the water.  He said, "Excited and a little nervous."  I asked him how he felt when he was sitting in the front of the room with hands layed on his head to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He replied, "Happy!" 

 

I knew John's baptism would be a special one, when as we were getting ready this morning Jacob reached up and burnt his hand on my flat iron.  He screamed for over 45 minutes.  As I held his hand under running water to ease the pain, I thought to myself, Satan does not want John to be baptized today.  Satan knows how special John is and he knows that Heavenly Father has given John a disability in this life so he untouchable.  So he uses John's family members to get at John. Now I don't believe Satan can influence a curious 14 month old.  But I do believe that he can cause a busy mom to forget to move something hot out of reach.  We were not in the exact frame of mind I had hoped we would be in as we left the house this morning.  But leave the house we did carrying a screaming baby with his hand in a cup of cool water in hopes to ease the pain.  Jacob kept his hand in that water until the baptism was over. He appeared fine the rest of the day.

 

 

John is a special boy who had sweetness & excitement oozing out of John from the time he got up today until he went to bed tonight. (I wish I could have bottled it up to save for a "rainy" day). He knew today was special and that he had participated in something significant.  I am so proud of this boy today!  He was very brave and overcame a huge fear.  I am so pleased that he truly wanted to be baptized; he wanted to promise to follow the Savior. I am grateful to have witnessed this small miracle! I love you John!