by Rev. Tyger Penson
Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:41).
It began on Saturday. I’ll never forget the sequence of events that took place over the next two weeks. Clarice, Candi’s mother, had been admitted to the hospital with a serious illness. Candi called and asked if I would visit her mom at Providence Hospital. “Of course” I replied and that afternoon made my way into downtown Portland. Candi was there and introduced her mom to me.
It was the beginning of an almost daily trip to see this 81 year old loved mother. And on those visits Clarice and I talked about our families, the challenges of the times, and life’s difficulties for her. I discovered that Clarice had attended Sunday school at a Baptist church as a child but had dropped out. Her husband was not “religious” and so she had stayed away from the church except to bring her children to Sunday school and attend the occasional funeral or wedding.
It was the perfect lead-in for sharing my own faith story and telling her about God’s love for her. One day she lamented, “I never got baptized. Guess I’m just too old for that now.” My response: “You’re never too old for that, Clarice. Would you like to be baptized?”
And that is why two days later, Candi and her five year old daughter, Karley, met me at the hospital. Clarice was too weak to leave her bed so the nurse brought us a pitcher of water and there in her bed and using a clean bed pan, Clarice heard again the mystery and wonder of God’s gift of baptism. Karley sang “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” And then while tears flowed out of the eyes of mother and daughter and to the wonderment of a small five year old child, Clarice was baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is a gift of water and love that is beyond fathoming but the beauty of the new hope that came to Clarice cannot be underestimated. Two days later, Clarice left this earth to be with her newfound friend, God. Baptized and Renewed.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, baptized, we live in you. May we never forget or ignore the miracle that comes when we live anew with your mark forever upon us. Amen.
Song: “Jesus Loves Me” by Anna B. Warner
Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. (Refrain)
Jesus loves me! He will stay close beside me all the way;
When at last I come to die, he will take me home on high. (Refrain)