We have decided to get the boys baptized (this fall) and I was a bit worried about how Lucas will react on the big day, so I decided to do some prep work and begin discussing the event with him now. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Lucas, mommy and daddy have decided to have you and baby brother baptized in a couple months. Do you know what baptism is?
Lucas: Uh-huh.
Me: You do? (somewhat shocked, but we do attend church and he did learn to say "grace" at the dinner table without my prodding, so anything is possible...)
Lucas: Tie my shoes mommy? (I'm guessing he heard "Tie" in bapTIZED and thought we were having a discussion about sneakers.)
Me: No. This doesn't have anything to do with your shoes. No, baptism is where you stand up infront of everyone at church and the Pastor pours water over your head and the crowd claps for you. (At this point I was really trying to dumb it down so he wouldn't be afraid of the water aspect on the big day...in a few years I will explain the whole commitment aspect of it to him when God isn't just some nebulous concept to him).
Lucas: (very quiet while thinking this over for a few minutes...sucking his finger, then--) Do I have to take my clothes off?
Me: (laughing behind my hand). Nope. I think everyone would prefer you keep them on.
Lucas: Water get in my eyes, mommy? (VERY concerned--he has a tendancy to FREAK when soapy water gets into his eyes during bathtime).
Me: I'll be honest--water might get in your eyes. BUT, it will be just plain water--no bubbles at all. It won't sting. Okay?
Lucas: Okaaaay. Can I have a popsicle mommy? (end of subject)
I think I may have to have this conversation a few more times and maybe even a practice run of the big event...hope that isn't sacreligious to have fake baptisms at home. My mother said she had a cousin who routinely baptized her cat, Honey, growing up (fully emersed, too--they were Baptists) so this can't be worse than that, right?
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