"Diving In"

Hello my sweet girlies!! There are days when you are a mom that will stand out, days that you know will leave a lasting imprint on your mind and Sunday, May 2, 2010 was one of those days. But first we most go back a couple of weeks and start from there. It was my carpool day, and with 6 kids in the car that meant that Melia was sitting up front with me. I'm not really sure what sparked the conversation but Melia and I found ourselves discussing the meaning of Baptism on this particular day. I tried as best as I could to explain the concept of dying to one's self and being raised up in Christ to a 7 year old, not exactly and easy task. Needless to say, Melia looked at me like I was "cah-razy" and had no problem letting me know that she wanted absolutely nothing to do with baptism. Initial thought... "Way to go, Cija!!", but thankfully the Holy Spirit piped in and helped me in my response to this now frightened little girl. "Melia, I have an idea, why don't you just start praying about it? Ask Jesus to let you know when He wants you to get baptised." Now she was scared and perplexed, how was Jesus going to let her know, it wasn't like He could pick up the phone and call her. More explanation was needed. So I told her that when He was ready, she would be ready too, her heart wouldn't be scared anymore it would be at peace and she would just know it was time. (Melia is a crazy prayer! I truly believe it is one of her spiritual gifts, she is so faithful to pray for those you ask her to pray for, I've really never seen anything like it, in fact one night before bed I was explaining to her that Jesus has a purpose for her life, something that He has created her to do. She replied "I think it has something to do with prayer." I just nodded my head in complete agreement.) So, it came as no surprise that every time she prayed for dinner or before she went to bed she asked Jesus to let her know when He wanted her to be baptised.

Now let's fast forward to the morning of May 2nd. Sunday mornings are always crazy! There are 4 girls to get ready and I usually have to be to church early because I am volunteering for something, on this particular day is was the welcome desk. I was combing out Sabrina hair when Melia rounded the corner with her dad, her eyes were red and puffy and I could tell that she had been crying. Of course, my first thought was that she and her dad had not see eye to eye on something. When I asked her what was wrong she said "I'm ready to get baptised? I just about feel over! (secretly, I thought the child might need therapy to get over the fear I had created just a few short weeks ago!!) That one statement started a snowball of activity in our master bathroom. Sabrina wanted to know what it meant to get baptised, I seriously tweeked my explanation to something more age appropriate and simply said that it was a chance to tell the world that you have excepted Jesus as your Savior. Which prompted a whole other conversation because Sabrina and Ryanne couldn't remember asking Jesus into their hearts (which originally happened on April 17, 2008). I remember at the time I wrestled with whether or not they were really saved, were they too young, did they really understand what they were doing, but in the end I knew that God would never turn his ear to the prayer of a child and that they truly did believe in Jesus. But I saw no harm in praying with them again, so that they could have a moment to remember. Ryanne was still in the tub, so while Rod worked on getting her out, Sabrina and I sat on the side of our bed and had a little talk and then as sweet and precious as she is she bowed her head and prayed the sweetest little prayer asking Jesus to forgive her of her sins and to come into her heart. Then is was Ryanne's turn. Rod sat in the same spot on the bed, and had Ryanne repeat a prayer after him. (okay, I have to admit that I thought it was super cute that he prayed the prayer in 3rd person vs. the 1st person, so little Ryanne would say things like "Dear Jesus, please forgive Ryanne for her sins... etc.) WOW!! were the Cooksey's having a morning or what!?!? It was time for me to go, so Melia and Sabrina jumped in the van with me and daddy and Ryanne were going to meet us at church). On the way, Melia was telling Sabrina that she was going to be baptised that day, I cut in and explained that it probably wouldn't be that day we would have to check and see when the next baptism service was (and in my head I was thinking and daddy has a concert, it's Nana & Papa's anniversary, and we have Home Fellowship at our house at 6:00, today was out.)

Melia - "But mom, Jesus told to get baptised today, it has to be today!"

Me - "Oh honey, I am sure that Jesus will understand if we can't do it today, we will do it as soon as we can.

Melia - "No, Jesus said today! It just has to be today!"

I could tell she was getting upset and I figured it would be best to just put this to rest until I could find out when the next service was and sell her on that date. The first thing I did when I got behind the desk was to pull out the baptism sign up sheet, I couldn't believe my eyes, baptism was scheduled for today. I was over come with the impeccable timing of God and the way He had moved in Melia's heart and proved her faith to be worthy by having all the pieces fall into place.

So, that afternoon we loaded up the car and headed to the Gibson's to have Melia

"bap-ti-mit-tized" (as Sabrina calls it). The clouds were dark and the weather was terrible, the wind was blowing and the rain was verging on hail. Melia was concerned about being outside in the bad weather and asked why it was raining. "Well Melia, Satan is not very happy right now that you have decided to get baptised and he might be trying to get you to change your mind, but you don't need to worry, Jesus knows that you are going to get baptised and He will take care of everything rain or shine." Melia just smiled and I could see that she was determined to get baptised that day no matter what happened (I was so proud of her!). But as we pulled up to the Gibson's home the rain stopped and rays of sun poured through the thick clouds. Once again, God came through for a little girl. It was a wonderful day!! and one I will never ever forget! Way to go girl!! You're diving in!!

My notes from April 17th 2008

Today Sabrina and Ryanne accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. I was sitting at my desk when Sabrina came over and said "mom, I really want to go to Heaven." I told her that there is only one way to heaven and that is to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to ask him to live in your heart. She took off running for her room and said "I'm gonna go do that right now." I jumped up and said "Wait, I'll go with you." She sat on her bed and prayed the sweetest little prayer asking Jesus to forgive her sins and live in her heart. After Sabrina prayed, Ryanne said "I want to pray too mom." She also prayed and said "Jesus, I know you died on the cross but you're alive now, forgive me of my sins and come live in my heart." Amen