Dear Friends in Christ -
Today, we baptized three little ones at the 10:00 a.m. service. So adorable, these little ones.
The miracle is not just that God welcomes these little ones - after all, who wouldn't?! they're so amazing! - but that he welcomes each and every one of us, too. Even after we grow up and lose our innocence, He welcomes us. Even when we make mistakes and choices so bad that we can't stand ourselves, He welcomes us.
As we renewed our Baptismal vows today, I really experienced the second-chance-ness of His love. During the confessions we say during Lent, we ask God to forgive us for the "pride, hypocrisy and impatience" of our lives. There's not a day that goes by that I don't participate in at least one of those; how about you? And yet, God welcomes us. And not only welcomes us, but rejoices in our return to Him, again and again.
The babies we baptized today know nothing yet of this cycle of repentance and renewal. But they'll make their own mistakes soon enough, because they, too, are human.
My prayer for myself and for all of us this day is that we will indeed fulfill the commitment we made to them today: to show them, by word and example - by returning to God again and again and again to receive His welcome - the way to God in Christ.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
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