Dear Sweet Ashleigh,
Last Thursday evening, your dad and I made a very big promise to God. We promised to nurture you in faith and prayer. We promised to live with you among God’s faithful people. We promised Him that we would teach you the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. We promised Him that we would help you grow in the Christian faith and life.
Last Thursday evening, your dad and I had you baptized at the Christ Chapel on the campus of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. For several years, we have been attending various worship services in that chapel along with the other seminarians that attend LTSS. It’s a gorgeous chapel with a very large pipe organ and dazzling stained glass windows. However, we didn’t choose this chapel for your baptism based on the looks of the place. We chose to have you baptized here because of the love we feel when we walk into the chapel…. our love for each other…the love of the people around us…the love of the professors who have guided your daddy through this journey to become a pastor….. the love of Christ because we know He is present here.
Last Thursday evening, your dad and I handed you over to Pastor Largen and he gently placed you into a large bowl full of water and you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You didn’t make a sound. Your wide, blue eyes gleamed.You stared at Pastor Largen as if YOU KNEW what was going on. YOU KNEW that this was a very important day for you, and you were hanging on to every single word that he uttered.
Last Thursday evening, your dad and I were surrounded by people who love you, who promised to help support you and pray for you in your new life in Christ. You could feel the love in the air. As I looked around the font and saw so many familiar faces smiling down at you, my eyes welled up. So many people love you and care for you, sweet girl. We are all here to make sure you live a Godly life.
Last Thursday night, Sweet Ashleigh Rose, you became a Child of God.
Love,
Your Momma and Daddy
Ashleigh’s baptism dress was made by my Mimi (my Mom’s mom) for my baptism in May 1981.
The whole family
The Tituses
The Ruckers
The Corleys
Ashleigh’s sponsors- Ginger and Kris Litman-Koon
“Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We will be there with you, Ashleigh, throughout this journey in Christ. What your parents said here is true; you were hanging onto every word that Pastor John was saying, and you were surrounded by a community that greatly loves you. You are especially precious in God's eye, and in ours. We love you!
ReplyDelete~Kris and Ginger
Such a sweet post, and a wonderful promise you have made! It gave me chills!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. Congratulations to you all and Ashleigh.
ReplyDeleteSo moving Erin and Matthew. It was a very special and wonderful time to share with everyone. Ashleigh really loved all the festivities.
ReplyDeleteLove Grandma Sue and Grandpa Bill
What beautiful pictures! So happy your whole family could come together for such a special and important day in her life! Thanks for sharing this post and pictures!
ReplyDeletelove,
Evelyn