This past Sunday, I had the privilege of performing my first Baptism.

In our church, we believe in full immersion. Scripture states that Jesus came up OUT of the water. Not that John sprinkled or splashed Jesus with some water…

Anyway I digress…

One of my Youth Group boys had been asking me questions and talking a lot about being baptized. I told him that when HE was ready, we would do it. He asked me if I would baptize him. I told him I would. I had never done it, but I would be glad to do so. He came to me about 2 weeks ago and said he was ready but wanted to make sure his dad would be in town and not working. Last Sunday was that day.

I do not know who was more nervous. We hit the baptistery and my knees were shaking and my voice was cracking! I read the words verbatim from the ‘just in case you get nervous and forget’ sheet hanging on the wall. He went under and came up from the water with huge applause from the congregation, and the curtain closed. We did it. He did it. I did it. So many things to be joyous about. Most importantly that he did it!

Now, you would think this post would be pretty close to over, right?

NOPE!!!

That day my oldest son, who has been insisting that he was going to be baptized, ASKED me when he could. He has been insistent for the past few months that he was going to no matter what his mother and I said. He is 7!

Every week during Communion, he would tell me “I am doing it, why can’t I do it? Your allowed to be baptized at any age, as long as your not a baby.” This week it was a mild, soft spoken, heartfelt. “Dad, when can I be baptized?”

His mother and I talked. First alone, then with him, and finally with her father and the minister. We all asked him questions. He answered each and every one of them with knowledge and conviction. We agreed. It is not my place to decide if he is ready, it is GOD’s decision. HE told my wife and I that it was time to allow him to make that choice. HE told us via our son’s responses.

This coming Sunday, Father’s Day, my oldest son is going to be baptized. I am more nervous about doing this one than last week when I did it for the first time. Please pray for my family as we enter into this weekend. Pray in rejoicing that our son has matured enough to know that he is making a decision that is going to be the most important choice he ever makes in his life, and he is making the right one for the right reason.

- Joby