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 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 Spirit" 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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