New Life

Last Monday afternoon Luke came into the room where I was and said, "Mama, let's talk."  I said, "Okay, let's go to my bed."  So, we spent about twenty minutes in my bed with me asking him questions about school, friends, life.  Every time I would stop asking questions he would say, "What next?"  Umm...what would you like to talk about? I knew he had something on his mind, but I obviously wasn't hitting on it.

A little while later he came in the kitchen to slip me this note:

It was right in the middle of the crazy part of the day, so I told him after we got Judah in the bed we could sit down with Daddy and talk about it.

That night, after talking, asking questions and praying together, Luke accepted Jesus.  It was sweet and precious and sincere.

Luke, being decisive and determined as he is, meant that he was ready to be baptized and that it was going to happen right away.  He made a list of who he wanted there and set the date for Saturday.  There was no discussion about postponing to give people time to make arrangements.  He wanted them there that coming Saturday and that was all that mattered to him.  We called the people on his list (oddly enough, it was all present and former school and Sunday school teachers and family members), and almost every one of them said they wouldn't miss it for the world.

We gathered Saturday morning around nine.  We started off by playing in the sand and enjoying each other's company.

Cousins!

Kris' parents and sister.

Luke's Sunday school teachers from last year, Ms. Lori and Ms. Judy.  These are two women who adore my boys, and I love them for it!

Kris did a great job with a pre-baptismal speech.

The symbolism of the moment in this photo still makes my eyes fill with tears: Luke following in his daddy's footsteps on his way to follow in his Daddy's footsteps.

Those more appropriately dressed for the moment went further out to watch closely.

Buried with Jesus in baptism...

We are raised to walk in newness of life!

Thank you, Jesus, for washing away ALL our sins!

A congratulatory handshake from his cousin, David.

And what more appropriate way to celebrate Luke's decision to walk with Jesus than with donuts?

I think Judah took a bite out of at least five different donuts.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  2 Corinthians 5:17