July 11, 2017 - What a Glorious Day!

What a glorious day!

About 6 months ago, Mason was in the bathtub and he randomly asks me to baptize him. Truthfully, it caught me off guard. We talk about Christ in our house, we read Bible stories and we pray, but honestly we don't make it to church nearly as often as we should.  I bought myself some time by saying "Buddy, that's great! That is something your Daddy would like to be part of. Let's talk about it with him some more."  We then had a whopping 2 minute conversation about what being baptized meant.  To my surprise, Mason knew exactly what it meant. That moment, I prayed that the desire to seek Jesus wouldn't be a fleeting comment, but be the start of a true relationship between him and God.  I remember feeling scared excited that a bit of what we say to him is actually sinking in. I thought about all the seemingly brief, but crazy deep, conversations Richard and his Nannie (Val Snyder) had with Mason and that those small, but mighty, seeds that were planted were actually growing roots.

Fast forward to our annual family trip to St. Pete's Beach. The entire side of the Moss/Snyder family takes over these quaint little condos right on the beach.  From a distance, we see Nannie (Val Snyder, Richard's mom) coming towards the ocean. She was alone, which was a small miracle in itself, because there are 10 kids here who think she hung the moon and any time you see Val, she's typically has a gaggle of grandkids following her, like a mother goose with her ducklings.  She was at the pool and had decided she just needed some beach time... Mase sees her and says "I want to be baptized." I could tell Richard had a lump in his throats upon hearing this... he had a private moment with Mason and asked Mason if he knew what that meant.  Mason said "it's when you want Jesus in your heart."

So, here comes Nannie walking down the beach and wading in the water - totally unsuspecting of the HUGE request and responsibility that would be requested of her.  Richard said "Mason, do you want Nannie to baptize you?" Val laughed nervously and Mason said yes.  Even though Val was seemingly unprepared, she took Mason and baptized him.

I say 'seemingly unprepared' because Val is not a preacher; this isn't something she's done before.  Of course I know, and any person who has ever met Val knows, that Val is one of the most faithful, spiritually strong women there is.  She has a true, genuine relationship with the Lord and doesn't get caught up in the legalism of religion - she is caught up in the RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, so while she may have felt like she was 'winging it' I cannot think of anyone more qualified.

St. Pete's Beach 2017

I grew up Methodist.  Baptism by 'dunking' wasn't something that was emphasized in my church.  Off and on throughout my early adult years, I'd dabble in Christianity.  I was a believer, but my walk would sometimes veer off course and I'd get distracted with life.  When I was in my mid-30's and we lived at Lake of the Ozarks, I was invited to join a women's book study with some amazing women.  It was a commitment.  Every Sunday night, we would faithfully leave our families and spend a couple of hours encouraging each other as mothers, wives, and Christians.

I had contemplated baptism as an adult but typically talked myself out of it... I mean, kids get baptized - adults should already be baptized, especially those who claim to be Christians, right?!  Besides, I had a relationship with Jesus, so what does it matter if I'm baptized.  I put up spiritual resistance because I didn't feel it was necessary.  Then, I got distracted - this time with cancer.

After 2 years of dealing with cancer, I had regained my physical health and started to direct my attention to my spiritual health.  I started reading.  I started thanking and thinking.  I prayed for guidance.  I talked to friends who were strong in their faith.  My husband, jokingly and lovingly, told me I was going to Hell since I wasn't baptized.  And when I would feel that quite nudge to get baptized, I would quickly brush that thought aside.  The thought of getting paraded in front of a church I occasionally attended, in front of strangers I did not know, and taking this oath from some preacher I hadn't had a conversation with prior felt contrived and inauthentic.  Not my style.

But baptism continued to enter my thoughts and I realized it wasn't about what I wanted, it was about being obedient, something I struggle with and continually fight spiritually.  So, I took advantage of Val being there to baptize Mason and asked her to baptize me, too.  I remember rising out of the water and feeling a bit of relief, as my own baptism is something that has weighed on my heart for the past 10 years.

Richard and Val

What an amazing afternoon that hot, sunny day (July 11, 2017) at the beach.  I got to witness my son be baptized by his grandmother.  Richard got to watch his mom baptize his son and his wife.  Val got the honor of baptizing her grandson and daughter-n-law.  It was this moment that lots of seemingly random events led up to, although I know they weren't random at all: a perfectly intimate, organic moment our little family will cherish forever.