were only wishes inside my heart

to celebrate our thirtieth birthdays and to kick off the next decade of our lives, my mister and i traveled to the holy land on an epic pilgrimage. one of the most powerful moments of our trip came as we waded into the cool water of the jordan river. there in the same waters where john baptized jesus, we were baptized.

the priest traveling with us encouraged me to bring a jar of the water home. i dug into my backpack, pulled out an empty glass soda bottle, and filled it with holy water.

that small bottle has since blessed dozen of wedding rings. it was been swiped across the foreheads of babies. it was sprinkled on our new home. it was poured over the heads of those who have left our world.

this morning, in a very simple, very reverent ceremony our son was christened with the same water his father and i were baptized with nearly three years ago. months before we were engaged. as our life together was just beginning. when a baby and this life were only wishes inside my heart.

i watched the water run over my son’s head and i was overcome.

filled with love. pure happiness. near disbelief that this life, this man, and this boy are mine.

“then jesus came from galilee to the jordan to be baptized by john. but john tried to deter him, saying, ‘i need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” jesus replied, ‘let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ then john consented. as soon as jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. at that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the spirit of god descending like a dove and alighting on him. and a voice from heaven said, ‘this is my son, whom i love; with him i am well pleased.'” – matthew 3:13-17