A milestone day

Taking communion after  baptism

Jacob Burton was baptized today, a milestone in his life and in ours. We attend University Christian Church, where they baptize by immersion. Jacob was admittedly quite nervous about this, but it went well, and he said when it came to the actual moment, he felt calm.

Proud grandmother

He certainly had a cheering section—Christian’s parents, his sister, her husband, and their two daughters, a couple of my friends, lots of Jordan’s friends, and several boys Jacob’s age. It was a great tribute to all of them that so many friends turned out to congratulate him. I got hugs from Jordan’s friends—and a couple from Jacob’s contemporaries—not

Jordan trying to get hug

from Jacob

the boys, of course. They’re at the hug-resistant age.

Afterwards we went to the Star Café in the Stockyards. My friends Betty and Don Boles own the café and treated us like royalty—flowers on the table, a cake with Jacob’s name on it. Most people ordered chicken fried steak, and it met with high praise. Conversation was light and flowing.

We came home, with the Burton clan, for more cake, but I gave up—I was full and sleepy and had a good nap.

Baptism is a serious step for a youngster, and Jacob was told that he did not have to do it. He’s the right age, in our church, and he’d been going to the Discipleship class, but it was still his decision. And he decided he wanted to do it—which, to me, made it all the more meaningful. I have a funny take on baptism, mostly because I was sprinkled as an infant in the Methodist Church. I tend to take it for granted and not to realize what a momentous moment it is the lives of young people. Maybe it’s partly my long-ago background as a northerner. But I’m learning And tonight, I’m proud and grateful.

It does remind me of a friend who wrote, remembering her immersion baptism now many many years ago, that her thought was, “Well, at least that’s taken care of!” I think Jacob may feel a bit that way too.

So what do young boys do after the experience of baptism? Jacob and his buddies went fishing.