Early in the morning Dot lay in bed thinking about the special
Palm Sunday ahead. She glanced out her window enjoying the sunshine, then
noticed snow on a tree limb. She jumped out of bed and ran to the window. Snow covered
everything in sight. Who ever heard of it
snowing on Palm Sunday?
Dot and her parents and younger sister walked to their
church through a foot and a half of snow. So much snow had fallen that the streets
hadn't been cleared. Dot enjoyed Sunday school and worship and, though
attendance was low she knew it would be an extra special day.
That night Dot and her family walked to church again through
the snow. Dot's heart beat a little faster than usual now, in anticipation. She remembered the minister’s description of Palm Sunday with Jesus riding into
Jerusalem on a little mule. The people had strewn palm branches in his path and
shouted with praise and joy, "Hosanna to the King!" The minister said
they should do everything with love and joy and praise for Jesus in their
hearts and shout "Hosanna to the King."
When they arrived at church Dot went to a little room next
to the sanctuary. Her friends were already there and women from the church helped
them get dressed. Dot slipped into her white robe and just then the organist
began playing the prelude. Dot's heart beat a little faster, because she knew
this was such a special moment in her life - one she would always remember. Dot was going to be baptized that night.
The service began. Dot's best girl friend, Kitty, went first
and came out dripping wet, but smiling. One of the boys went, and then her turn
came. She stepped into the water slowly and confidently. The minister took her
hands. He talked about the meaning of baptism and asked her if she loved Jesus
and wanted Him as her Lord and Savior. Dot replied, "Yes" in a low
whisper, but her heart was beating a loud and joyous "Yes" within
her.
Dot didn't fully understand all that baptism meant, but she
knew Jesus was the Son of God and died for her and rose again. She knew baptism
meant she would try to do whatever Jesus wanted her to do and she would be
different because Jesus would live in her heart.
The minister said, "I baptize you in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost" as he gently let her down into the
water. As she came up out of the water she heard the congregation singing
"My Jesus I love Thee, I know Thou art mine" and she knew for the
first time what that song meant.
After church she heard people say, "What a shame it had
to snow on Palm Sunday." But Dot didn't feel that way. She knew this day couldn't
be hurt by outward things like snow. That night she had proclaimed to all the
members of her church that she wanted Jesus to be the King of her life - just
as the people the first Palm Sunday had proclaimed him King. Dot wanted to do
as the minister had said they should that morning and live with a song of love
and joy and praise for Jesus in her heart always.
"Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" Luke 19:38 NLT
Blessings,
Dottie
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