Emily's Baptism

Emily was baptized yesterday at Poppy's church. It was such a wonderful service and I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little emotional. It's impossible, when you reach a major milestone in your children's lives, to keep your mind (and heart) from wandering back to all you have been through and overcome to reach that point. We all do it and for me, in the case of this little peanut, the memories can be so harsh - the doubts and fears still so very real.

But on this day, this day, it felt like one great victory dance. I felt like I was staring down every one of those fears and doubts that plagued my mind for years (fears that sent me to my knees day after day and night after night), and I was screaming at them, "See? You were wrong!! We were right to hope! We were right to pray! We were right to rely on our great God! He IS a great healer! He IS faithful! He DOES answer prayer! He STILL does miracles!"

Well, okay...I would apologize for my enthusiasm, but it's the truth.  I don't know about anyone else, but that is just a taste of how my heart talks. :-) Triumph, in a single word, the day represented triumph and victory - for God, for Emily and for all of us who prayed so faithfully for her. Thank you all!!

She was SO excited!!

Special music in the service was the song by Laura Story, "Blessings".  If you have not heard it, go to youtube and listen to it.  But have a kleenex nearby.  it is the only song I have ever pulled off to the side of the road just to listen to it.  True story: the first time I heard it was on the raidio and I literally heard the first three lines, stopped the car and sat - for a long time - pondering the truth of the words.  Here, I at least can leave the lyrics for you.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Proud.  Happy. Blessed. God Bless!!