Weddings and Funerals. And Baptisms

I attended two baptisms in two days this weekend. In addition to the very cute babies, it was good to see all the familes together. All dressed up and a little uncomfortable. Some hadn't seen each other since the wedding reception, others hadn't seen each other since the incident that drove them apart. But for the most part all were there with a common association, focused on the future of the child. Some were thinking about the eternal future of the child.

We were all reminded to contemplate our own eternal future. Remember that interesting part in a baptism when all present are asked to repeat their own commitment to God? "Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?". I'll have to get back to you on that, but I do believe in the power of family. The immediate family of mom, dad and child(ren)... the extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc... and the 'community' family of neighbours, class mates and church mates. It's better to belong. We all need, and we all want to be needed. Family fits that bill nicely. An example of that strength is when folks say how nice it would have been if others could have attended also, but couldn't because they're in Dallas TX, Vernon BC or only in our hearts and memories.

The beautiful baby in this pic is Sage Marie with parents Ami and Marc. The two ladies in the foreground are Sage's grandmother, Debbie, and great-grandmother, Eileen. On the far left is Sage's grandfather Tom. On the far right in white is one of Sage's godmothers, Janet.