Sophie is a talker, a question asker, a truth seeker. She’s the girl you pick up from Sunday School, who talks all the way home about what they learned, why it does (or doesn’t) make sense, and where it can be found in the Bible. It’s been fun to have deep conversations with her as she grows and to watch as Biblical principles start to make sense in her own mind.
Back in October, she — very matter-of-factly — came home and asked us how many times she had to ask Jesus into her heart before we would let her be baptized. This question is so Sophie and we knew right away that something was brewing deep in her soul. Our church’s kids’ service, offers the plan of salvation and an opportunity to pray every week, and while she hadn’t told us about her decision quite yet, it was obvious it had been made (multiple times!). Josh and I sat her down that night and walked her through what it means to be a believer and it was clear to us both that she fully understood the decision she’d already made. At the age of seven (at the time), there was still much to learn and we work to correct and guide her as she talks to us about God and her faith, realizing that is the first of many decisions she’ll make as a believer in Christ.
Shortly after, we stayed after church for a baptism service and she was more than a little intimidated by the process. We go to a very large church and she realized that many people would be watching — mostly those she didn’t know — and she wasn’t sure about being baptized quite like that. She asked if it would be okay to be baptized at home, with her family and friends in attendance, and if the pastor who married us and baptized Ella could baptize her instead. Considering the temperatures in October and our proximity to John’s home in Texas, we told her we might have to wait until summer, but nothing could deter her from her plan!
We were so thrilled that John was visiting his son’s family this past weekend and we were able to schedule some time for him to spend with us. Not only did he baptize Sophie in our pool, but he held a dedication service for my niece, Vera, under the arbor where her parents were married. It was such a fun and sentimental evening!
I can’t remember when exactly, but one Sunday last year, our Pastor had lifesaver candies passed around to everyone in the service. It wasn’t until we had them in our hands that he told us to think about a person in our life, who we wanted to see come to salvation in Jesus. Knowing we were already talking with Sophie about her faith, I chose to pray for her. We were asked to keep our lifesaver in a safe place and once that person came to salvation in Christ, we could eat it. Sophie told me on Friday that she did not want me to eat it — it was old and I was pregnant and she was worried it wouldn’t be good for the baby. Ha! Either way, I dug it out of my jewelry box and told her the story of how I’d been praying over her this entire year.
We knew there was some rain forecast for Friday, but it had been a beautiful day and we thought we might just make it through the service without any storms. I’m not kidding when I tell you that the sky got ominously dark and the rain started falling right as John and Sophie walked into the water.
Just look at that crowd! All of her favorite people were here and she loved being surrounded by those who love her most.
I didn’t mention it before, but one of the only things she was sad about missing out on by not getting baptized at church, was the very cool t-shirt they let you wear during the service. She asked me last week if I could get her one from church and while it wasn’t difficult, I had to talk to so many people before I found the right person to help. The minister over our children’s program was happy to find one for us and Sophie proudly wore her I Have Decided shirt all afternoon long. It further confirmed why we love our church so much — it wasn’t about where she was being baptized or who did the dunking, just that she made the decision to share her faith publicly and they were just as excited for her as we were.
After a very quick service, we all huddled under the barn porch for ice cream cake to celebrate.
Her sweet Nana bought her this cross necklace and she couldn’t wait to put it on! Ella has one from her baptism, too, and it’s become such a sweet tradition among grandchildren.
Later that night, we asked her if she enjoyed they day and if it was everything she hoped for. She told us that it was PERFECT — all of her favorite people were here, she was at home, the service was quick, AND there was ice cream. What sounds better than that?
Besides heaven, of course.
