A little flashback to August 14 here; I never did report on Grace’s baptism. And it was so lovely! We had G baptized at First United Methodist Church in North Hollywood, California. And, why did we pick a church nearly 3000 miles away from home? Because it's our family’s church, and the pastor that presides over the congregation not only married M and I, but he also baptized M and his sister (Grace’s Godmother). So the church and Pastor Joey have a lot of personal significance in our lives, and we wanted all our families to be there, which they were.
The family and friends that came were incredible, and everyone did a little something that week to remind us that our California peops, despite a 3 hour time difference, 5 hour flight, and 7-day drive, are really there for us. My parents, sister, and cousin took so much time out of their busy lives to spend with us that week. John, Grace’s G-Daddy, asked his friend Florence to sing a special song for Grace during the service. Pastor Joey gave such an inspiring sermon, and as he walked Grace up and down the aisle, my eyes teared with how much his faith has really fathered us over the years. Rosemary (Grace’s Grammy) and John bent over backward to transform their house and yard into such an inviting space for all of our family and close friends to gather. Troas, Brandon, Sydney and Landon (Grace’s aunt and uncle - and now Godparents- and her cousins) aligned their trip from Pittsburgh with ours so we could all be together. My brother Rob, his wife and their two kids, drove the long way from northern California to be there. Grace’s Great Gram also came down from Santa Barbara to be there for our G. So many friends gathered, for this special day; we were so touched, and we recognize just how blessed we are.
So the holy comb? Well, Grace was, and still is, infatuated with putting anything she can into her mouth. It’s as if she can see through her mouth, not just taste and feel. Like it’s her superpower. So when I went I tried to do run a comb over her head, as quickly as I could, right after we hoisted on her Christening gown, and she grabbed it from me. It went straight between her four little teeth. I think for a moment we locked eyes, and her expression basically said, “Listen, Mommy.... You've got this ridiculous dress on me, I’m in this weird big house with a bunch of people staring at me, and you can have it one of two ways: (1) I keep the comb, and I’ll chill out... or (2) you get the comb back; and we’ll see who’s louder, me or that organ over there. Your choice...” (said behind the two biggest and bluest eyes in the whole world).
So, we went with option 1, we all got to keep her eardrums, and she did great! My little angel and her holy comb.
In closing, the verse below really resonates with me. I am always moved by how we gather over ritual, and how those ceremonies unite us, helping us to recognize how connected we all are. Our gatherings do this, and so do the honesty of infants and the wisdom of the oldest among us: bring us together and show us how to love, from our toes to our noses, without even trying.
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
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