This adoption process has become a sort of spiritual quest for me. A test of faith on many levels. I felt strongly that I wanted to adopt from Nepal again even though I knew people were having long waits for referrals. I just felt that it would work out. That the Lord was leading me. Throughout this process it has been a constant battle to continue to be strong and retain that feeling. I've had some great up moments (getting our referral) and some big downs (adoptions halted for 10 months). All of it has been a continual test of my relationship with God. I should know by now that God does not do things according to my plans or even within my time schedule. It is very annoying.
Now that we are about to embark on our trip to finally bring our daughter home I've been thinking of having Ben baptized. It's something I've thought about for a long time. I want to raise Ben to know Jesus Christ. I want him to know that Jesus Christ is who I consider to be my savior and why I choose to follow Christ. So I've been approaching the subject with Ben. I must admit it is a bigger task then I thought it would be. Most people have their child baptized when they are infants. I see the logic in this now. They can't voice an opinion or ask questions that you can't answer.
On my first attempt to explain the baptism concept to Ben I told him we were inviting Jesus into our lives and we were saying that we would follow Jesus. That meant we would take care of people who needed food or clothing and the like. Even people we didn't know. He said "I like to take care of my friends Ian, Sammy and Riley but I'm afraid of strangers and you'll have to take care of them for me. I"ll just take care of my friends and my pets." End of round one.
For my next go at it my neighbor loaned me some books about Baptism for children. When I approached the subject of reading them he declared them "too Jesus-ie" and the one titled "Can God tie a Shoe" as "too shoey." He also informed me that he had already baptized himself in the bath tub and so did not need to be baptized again. End of round two.
As my next attempt I took Ben to our neighbor's church to get him acclimated to the environment. He demanded to know where God was in the church. I told him he was inside all the people. That God is everywhere and in all things. God created the world and is of the world. This degenerated into a discussion of just what God resides in. The dog? The fish? The fly swatter? End of round three.
I decided to take one more shot at it. I told Ben how we were inviting God to live in our heart and he would always be with us. He asked "would God be with me at night in bed when I have a bad dream?" I replied "Yes, of course. God is always with you." His response was " But I have my jammies and a blanket on so I can't see inside me to God. I'll need a special magnifier so I can look inside for only $24.99!" I think I might be down for the count.
Sarina will be baptized the day we get back. Before she learns to speak!
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8 comments:
You're lucky he didn't ask why god doesn't stop his bad dreams if he is in his head. These boys are too clever for their own good...
This boy is very much like his mother. what would you think if it was presented as Jesus living in your heart to help you read and understand his book? Ben, was a Map person, maybe if Jesus comes to his heart to help him follow is map to helping others and following his path- with the undrstanding that mom and dad would not let strangers get to close to him or let any one keep him in the water too long becasus Jesus made that their Job.
Sister #1
I loved this story. It is nice to hear that you may have found a "church home" This is very helpful in introducing children to Christ.
I have been thinking of you often and praying for you and Sarina daily.
I hope that Ben is better today.
Jon Jon is playing with his toys in his Nemo Jammies this morning. Yesterday he went the the "terraquariaum" as he calls it, with his Daddy. He loved the giant turtle and the dolphins.
We are hoping to take him to play with Anthony and Adriana later today. The three of them are very cute together. Jon Jon talks about the Costa babies all the time and asks to see them.
Calls us when you get the call.
Such a literal child he is! Might I suggest telling him that Baptism is one way we can show God by our actions that we love Him and promise to follow Him from now on?
Daddys approach is to wait till he's older to introduce him to Vishnu, Budha and the other possabilities. When we can carry on an adult conversation without references to fly swatters. lol. Guessing that's a few years, yet. He so likes those fly swatters.
I think Daddy is on the right track. I've been more involved with the Baptist church lately and it really is supposed to be baptisim as an adult when Ben can choose for himself.
I believe the catholic church baptises early and the parents choose for the child, then the confirmation is when the child "confirms" as an adult that he/she accepts Jesus as their savior. Maybe I have it wrong...
catholic'c baptiese, and the child comfirms at 1st commiuon, confirmation and marrage.
All religions recognize catholic baptism or did because it is with water poured or submerised while saying the rites.
Yes, Evangelical churches baptise people when they've reached an age when they can fully understand the committment they are making. There is no pre-set age...it is really about where the person is in their faith. I've seen kids as young as 10 and adults as old as 90 get baptised in my church. It is really beautiful because most give a short, public proclimation of their faith and path with God.
But, in most Evangelical churches, if you were baptised as a child it "counts" and it is your choice whether to do it again or not as an adult. It's all about "dying" to sin and being 'born again' to God.
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