Sentimental

I can't begin to put the words together to tell you how pleased I am that my new granddaughter,Ellie Marie Hickey, is being baptized tomorrow. 'That would have been enough',as they say in the Jewish Passover Celebration, but as God always heaps blessings on top of each other,full, overflowing,beyond what we deserve, what we even have the audacity to hope for, she is getting baptized because her parents have a full and rich faith,and they want her to be part of the family of God. That,also, would have been enough, but on top of that, she is being baptized in the parish rich in the history of our family life. My kids were, for the most part, raised in this church.They were baptized, received first communion,were confirmed, and some were even married here. I have celebrated here, mourned here,received comfort and encouragement here,served here.I love my parish. The people are kind and accepting. They love me and have loved my kids.I feel like they belong to me and I am theirs.So, I have a sense of things continuing, of God bringing me to this place in my life. I am grateful.