Dedication

That's three of my favorite people in the whole wide world. The young man is Miles, our oldest son, and the young lady is his lovely bride, Kimberly. Occupying the center of the picture is Bennett Shepherd Flanders, our youngest grandchild who is now just over 7 months old.

The picture was taken at Bennett's Baby Dedication at Church of the King in Peachtree City, Georgia. Kimberly and Miles have been attending and serving there since prior to their marriage. In fact, they met through a small group that was part of the start-up for the congregation. What an honor it was to gather with our family and Kimberly's for such a momentous occasion.

I love that Kimberly and Miles publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ, and that they stated their commitment to being Christian parents, role models, and spiritual guides to Bennett. There is something powerful in saying words aloud. It's not magic, but it helps to strengthen our commitment, and it serves as a marking point for that decision. It's why people repeat their wedding vows out loud before an officiant and the assembled friends and family.

Commitments like this form the trajectory of one's life. They also, if remembered and adhered to, help shape the decisions that we make and the actions we take. "I made a commitment to this little guy," Miles and Kimberly will recall in the years to come. Maybe it'll be late at night when he's sick, not sleeping well, and he's keeping them awake as well. Or when the Terrible Twos or the Fearsome Fours roll around. Or maybe when he's a middle schooler and not much in a listening mood. Or when he's a teenager and his parents have suddenly lost all their intelligence (at least to his way of thinking). You get the picture.

Such a commitment may be the defining standard when Miles or Kimberly is faced with ethical or moral decisions. "I know who I am," they may remember. "A follower of Jesus, a parent, the person that little guy is watching and counting on. The person he wants to be when he grows up." That's a pretty good plumb line to keep you thinking straight.

So, Bennett's Dedication was a huge moment for his Mama and Daddy, but it was more than that. While they were making their own commitments before the Lord, they were being reminded that they are not alone in this endeavor. Holding that precious boy up on that platform, they could look out and see the faces of siblings and in-laws and nieces and nephews and cousins, of their own mothers and fathers. Raising a child is best done in the company of family who care about you and the child. I can tell you that, as much fun as it was raising our sons, I sure am glad I had the support and encouragement of my family.

But remember that we didn't hold this Baby Dedication at home. It wasn't a family tradition, some custom that Miles and Kimberly kept with just their relatives. Rather, Bennett was dedicated at church. The family of faith, by their very presence, renewed their own affirmations of faith and also pledged themselves to this little guy and to his parents. Simply by being there, they let Kimberly and Miles know that, come what may, they will continue to be there for them. They will love this family, pray for and with this family, live and grow and serve side by side with them.

And, lest life take this family to another community or to another church, those men and women in that room that Sunday represented something bigger than themselves, bigger than the Church of the King congregation. They represented The Church, the body of Christ, which is the collection of believers flung far and wide around the world. Wherever they may go, The Church will beat them there. That's a promise.

I can sleep easy at night knowing that my little grandson is in good hands. And I know his Mama and Daddy are as well. Thanks be to God!