Fall 1987

ARTICLE TOOLS

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The Mother's Day dedication service was moving toward its conclusion. The last of the six beautiful babies was being presented to the Lord. Solemn questions had been asked of the parents:

"Will you, by God's help, provide a Christian home for this child and bring her up in the worship and teaching of the church, that she may come to know Jesus Christ as her Savior and follow him as Lord?"

"We will," the glad parents responded.

"Will you, members of this congregation, be faithful to your calling as members of the body of Christ, so that this child and all other children in your midst may grow up in the knowledge and love of him?"

"We will," said the united congregation.

It was a holy moment. Many eyes glistened among the adults. Children looked on in wide-eyed wonder at this re-enactment of the ancient ritual. The infant Jesus was again in the Temple, Simeon looking for the consolation of Israel, Anna praising God.

As I pronounced the benediction on the last peaceful child, holding her in my arms and softly repeating the words of blessing, "The Lord bless you and keep you . . ." suddenly she looked up at me, startled, with wide-eyed terror. Her face reddened and twisted into a grimace, a coil of anguish waiting to unwind. In the next instant, the entire sanctuary was filled with her piercing wail. This little beauty, cradled so gently in my arms, was howling directly into the microphone clipped to my lapel. So much for the holy moment.

Should I muffle the noise by holding her tightly against my chest? Or quickly give her back to her parents? Should I cry with her. Or laugh?

I started to laugh. So did the congregation. It wasn't the laughter of ridicule or embarrassment. It was a spontaneous, holy laughter in the midst of the fears ...

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