Honestly I have hit backspace more than any other key on my laptop… It is all a work in progress, and so far this is my hardest blog to write.
For as long as I can remember I have been told, “One thing no one can ever take from you is your education, so get educated”. Great thing to live for by all means, but another thing one person can never take from you is, your beliefs, the way you follow Christ, the way he guides you and who you are BECAUSE GOD. When preparing for this moment I didn’t imagine it to be so hard, maybe it is for me because I am a MAJOR planner and this is a MAJOR moment, but either way I struggled. I struggled writing this blog, who to invite and who not to, what to wear, what to pray about the night prior…the list can go on and on. I did not adjust my life to prepare for this. My Baptism was the next step in my Christ, the next step to take to get closer to Our God, and I made sure to thank God for this opportunity. I prayed for new things, I thanked Him for the changes, good or bad, and I added this day to my planner (yes I carry one EVERYWHERE). My preparations were very minimal, but the ‘how I knew’ was simply unexplainable. Two years ago I began my journey with Christ, there were times I didn’t attend church for weeks because life, there were days I didn’t pray because life and there were moments I doubted God because of life. Two years of ‘because life’, but never a ‘because they did’. When asked why I wanted to be baptized, why I felt I needed that to move forward, or how God has been apart me. All the answers race through my mind and there is never a wrong or right one, but there is MINE. Since finding my Faith my life has changed in ways I never thought it would, there were moments I felt at my lowest but God made sure I knew I was at my highest, there were those days I didn’t want to get out of bed but God was positive to push me out. I have never doubted God, I always knew he had my back, just as I knew I was ready for baptism. I am a strong believer of God putting things in your path for you to follow, and this moment was one of those times he gave me a side road to my path. “Jesus Is My Community” is the path God has given me, believe or not I see Jesus in everyone, because He is in ME. Meeting new people is something I do almost every day, and I am building my community. Those relationships I build or tear down is God building my community, that is Jesus coming alive in all my people. My community is full of the greatest of souls, and I am surrounded by the most amazing people…at least I think so. Expressing my feelings for the people I share my everyday life with, is not always easy, for you or for me. But it is something we all do eventually. The one night I asked my brother to baptize me, that same evening I attended my baptism class, that same day I had mentioned to my sister-in-law the possibility of me asking my brother; this day was flooded with feelings. We all sat for dinner, only 5 minutes in and my sister-in-law just laughs and it leads to me laughing (very common when we are both holding a secret in). This was the moment, welcome back emotions was all I could think about. I asked and my brother said yes, and I was sure tears would be flowing shorty…then…. He continues with “wait I get to dunk you in the water” (with that mischievous laugh). Yes in fact, that is my big brother, that is the one I chose, and really that is the reason why. For as long as I can remember I have held a close relationship with him, especially in the past 6 years or so. My big brother is my best friend, and when you get to his part you will understand why. I knew right away there was no better person to do this, I knew to make it perfect it would have to be him, because he is my bestest friend. My brother did the honors of dunking me under water, just as my brother has always done the honors of making sure I am ok, he really is one of the greatest people I know. And yes, he is my favorite sibling. Because God made him believe, because Jesus is in him; he never hangs up the phone without “I Love You’, he never says goodbye without a hug, he never hasn’t been there when I needed him, and he always reassures me that I am doing great.
Words from my big brother himself,
{I am filled with joy that my little sister has asked me to be a part of this special moment. Katie and I have not always been as close as we are now and I attribute the growth in our relationship to the growth we have had in our relationship with God over the last few years. God has opened Katie’s eyes to the path He has laid for her and watching his master plan unfold in front of her has been magnificent. Her love for her family, friends and those around her are a reflection of the love she has for Him.
Over the last several years Katie’s devotion and hard work has allowed her to grow into the women God meant her to be and her commitment to serve Him is truly inspiring. As she embarks on this journey to spread God’s word to those less fortunate than us I know that He will lay His hand on Katie and speak to her the guidance she needs to accomplish His work. I am beyond proud to call her my little sister and can not wait to see what else God has in store for her.
I love you beyond words Bug and am amazed by you every day!}
Jesus is why, Jesus is in you and in me.
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