Sadness and Joy

December 14th is a day filled with the totality of the human experience for my family. It is filled with significant anniversaries.

It is the day that my Gummy passed away—my mom's mom. Anything ornery that you have ever seen me do is a direct result of Gummy's DNA flowing through me. I'm both heartened and perplexed that this DNA did not skip a generation and my kids have it in spades—who am I kidding, I love it.

Today is also the anniversary of Bob's death, my dear father in law. Papa, as my kids call him. A loving man, incredible grandfather and the wise counselor of my bride for oh so long. His wisdom, faith, and uncanny common sense, I'm thankful, continues to guide our family.

I know Deanna continues to miss their chats. I'm grateful she followed his advise. It was Bob who helped Deanna to be patient with me and to trust the Lord's hand back when we were courting. Thanks Bob!

Death is the residual of Adam and Eve's bite of rotten fruit. Death was never in the plans for God's creation—He is the God of life!

Today is also the anniversary and celebration of the Baptism of Ember and Charlie--two of my kiddos. These two!

Washed, named, and claimed in the storied waters of baptism. Their adoption into our family was a wild ride (and remains so). It was this day, gathered around the font, with water splashing and dipped fingers tracing crosses on foreheads, that I look back to with joy.

Here, more than some court paper and lawyer decree, I knew these two were mine. Which is pretty funny, isn't it? The whole point of baptism is to declare that our children don't belong to us, they are on loan. Their home is in the heart of the Lord and He in theirs.

As I think of these three events—I can't help but notice how they are inextricably tied together. It is within the context of family, and in the passing of the generations, that death's sting is felt most sharply.

In lives well lived and traits passed forward--family is a blessing. And, like so many things, pain is better known within the caring embrace of love. For, if we do not love, we don't know the depth of sorrow that pain can bring. And, if we know no pain, then love is a fleeting mystery beyond our grasp.

Baptism is itself a death. It is a dying and a new rising. "If we are united to Christ Jesus in a death like His we will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." Baptism, in a real way, is our dress rehearsal for the rest of our lives. A constant dying and rising--all by the grace of Christ Jesus.

Here, on this day, for my family, we celebrate this baptismal anniversary because we know it has created a supernatural link to those we mourn. Joy and sorrow--they are interlaced. Always.

By the cross of Christ Jesus, the generations are still linked. The connection is secured by the nail-pierced hands and the one who continues to bear the spear-pierced side.

This is part of what it means that we love and serve a relational God. It reminds us that relationships matter to our Lord. First, our relationship to Him. But not at the expense of our relationships to one another. Finally, for us--we continue to mourn and miss our Gummy and our Papa. Their significance in our lives has not diminished.

What a joy it is to yoke our sadness to the hope of baptism, the promise of heaven, and the good work of our Father in heaven who makes a way to reunite all those who have gone before us.