Autumn

The little girl with the long blonde hair, wearing a pretty dress and white coat with white fur trim, came running up to me in the church hallway. “Pastor Jeff! Pastor Jeff! When can I get bap-pa-tized? “I smiled to myself as she said the word. I explained to her that she could be baptized and I would have to talk with her mom and dad to see when it could happen. We talked a bit about what baptism means, and I told her that we would have to meet to talk about it some more. She was one excited girl.

Autumn has been coming to church for some time, first on Sunday nights and more recently on Sunday mornings, too. Over time she has learned more and more about Jesus. Her grandmother reads to her from the children’s Bible that Autumn received at Vacation Bible School. Autumn is a very blessed little girl. Although her mother and
father are divorced, they both are involved in her life. Her mother has her during the week, and her dad and grandmother care for her on the weekend. Many of the other children in the neighborhood have been all but abandoned by their fathers. Not so with Autumn. Autumn has a good father. Her grandmother is the one she leans on a great deal and her grandmother is the one who teaches her that Jesus loves her. Her mother and father get along better than many divorced couples and both love her; she knows that.

Autumn understands the importance of being part of a family. She is in a good one. After all, much of what happens at Christmas revolves around the family - - - family gatherings, meals, and gift exchanges. Jesus was born into a family that loved and nurtured him. So was Autumn! Autumn knows this: when she is baptized, God will place his hand on her claiming her as his daughter. What a Christmas present for Autumn - - - along with a great earthly family, she will join the family of God.