I Wish I Had Known

Recently I was tagged in a Facebook post by a woman who was active in the student ministry in one of our former churches. She posted an old picture of her and another friend ( scrunched 80’s hair and all) saying, “This was taken over twenty years ago right after I was baptized. I will never forget how I felt that day and how dramatically my life changed from that point on.”

I wish I had known how important our church rituals and/or traditions were to people in our church. Yes, I knew baptisms were important. Yes, I knew weddings, funerals, and baby dedications were meaningful, but I regret missing so many opportunities to celebrate and maximize on those life defining moments with those who experienced them.

My husband and I frequently receive notes or emails with updates on families that we have known through the years, especially during the holidays. Almost all of them say something like this: “I remember when you baptized me..”. “You dedicated our baby, now he’s graduating…”, “You married us…”, “You preached my dad’s funeral…”, all referring to a marker in their family life that took place in the church or with our church family. These are sacred rituals that bring meaning into our spiritual journeys, defining moments that clarify our faith and life transitions. I wish I had known how important they were and how people remember them their whole life.

If I could do it over again, I would pay more attention to those events. I hope I would go out of my way to personally introduce myself to a new believer, welcoming her to our church family. I hope I would contact those who had life tragedies, even if they weren’t personal friends. I’d like to think I would go out of my way to speak to a new mom and dad who just dedicated their baby, or to have a spontaneous prayer with someone chronically ill seated behind me. I was not aware of how fleeting those moments really are, and how you have only that moment to acknowledge it.

The wonderful thing is that by being even a bit player in others’ stories, you are counted as an intimate part of that family circle from then on. I have found this to be one of the greatest blessings from being in ministry for many years.

Bill and Gloria Gaither put it this way: “We have this moment to hold in our hands, and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand; Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may never come, but we have this moment today.”

Don’t miss it.

Have any of you had the same experience? Have you realized the impact of your life later than sooner? How are you spending your day’s ? Post your comments in the forum or here. Remember when you click on the forum if you are not signed in you will need to do so in order to post a comment.
Meet SUSIE HAWKINS-
My husband, OS, and I live in Dallas and have been in ministry for over 30 years. We have 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren who keep our lives full of laughter and craziness. We enjoy traveling to Israel and exploring Christianity’s Jewish roots and its rich history. Women’s ministry has always been one of my loves, and I relish sharing Bible truths and connecting with women of all ages. I especially want to encourage ministry wives in their unique role and their walk with Jesus. I am amazed every single day at the grace and goodness of God and I fervently pray I never get over it. Oh, and I will drop just about anything to have Tex-Mex with friends, especially when combined with a little retail therapy!