By Grace Andrews of Blue Springs, Missouri, USA

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

I would like to share a story about a little girl who had just turned 8 years old. She went to church every Sunday with her family. She attended class and she listened as the morning church service progressed. Her kindly teachers were precious leaders. One day, as she quietly listened during the morning worship, she suddenly thought, “I’m 8 years old—I could be baptized.”

She waited anxiously for the service to end, then hurried to the back of the church and announced to the pastor, “I want to be baptized.” He knelt down and, looking into her eyes, said, “Why do you want to be baptized?” She answered, “Because I want to follow Jesus and be a child of God.” He gave her a big hug and said that was a good answer.

So, a few weeks later, a baptismal service was arranged. Many people from the congregation came to witness her baptism. There was no baptismal font, and she was a little frightened, but she held tight to her father’s hand as they climbed down a ditch bank so he could baptize her. All that was available was an irrigation ditch not far from the church.

Almost everyone from the congregation came and stood on the ditch bank to witness the baptism. This particular day, as the girl came up out of the water, most were surprised to hear one person loudly call out, “She didn’t get her forehead under the water; you’ll have to do it again.” And so because of this one witness, her father was compelled to baptize her all over again. Today she will tell you she was “well” baptized. I know this story is true, because I was that little girl.

Each one who has been baptized has a special story all their own. They may be different from yours or mine. But ask others about their unique story. They will be glad for the opportunity to share the story of their baptism and confirmation, and both of you will be blessed.

Prayer Phrase

“Bear one another’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2).

Spiritual Hunger

Jesus discerned hungers of body and spirit, and he fed them through a physical, verbal, spiritual ministry of presence. In a time of listening prayer, ask God to help you discern physical or spiritual hungers of people in your congregation, community, and global family. Invite the Spirit to move you to one hospitable act that “feeds” someone’s hunger today.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.