Dream Girl

            I followed Dad into the crisp, clear waters of Big River. Gravel crunched beneath my bare feet as we stepped deeper and deeper into the cold river until the spot seemed right and we stopped. I held my breath as cold water numbed the lower half of my body. Dad held a folded up handkerchief in one hand and my shaking hand in the other.

We turned to face fellow members of New Hope Baptist Church standing along the river bank then Dad cleared his throat and spoke, “Brothers and Sisters. We are gathered here today to witness this little child of God follow through with baptism after her decision to follow Jesus. I’m honored to baptize my daughter today before you,” he said to the crowd.

Some sniffled and wiped tears from their eyes but most were smiling in anticipation of the dunking that was about to take place.

            Then he turned and asked me, “Samantha, have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ and is He Lord and Savior of your life?”

            I smiled and nodded as I said, “Yes.”

            “Then in obedience to the command of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost…” He covered my mouth and nose with the folded up handkerchief as he spoke and slowly pushed me beneath the freezing water and said, “Buried with Christ in baptism…” then as he raised me back up out of the water, he finished with, “Raised to walk in the newness of life…”

            Applause broke out along the river bank as I came up out of the water and church members began to sing out of their hymnals a favorite song, “I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus.  No turning back, no turning back…”

            I wiped my face and began to walk out of the water toward the river bank where church members were waiting and Dad followed me out of the river.

“I’m so proud of you, dear.” A sweet older lady wrapped a large white towel around me as I shivered with goosebumps on my arms and legs.

“Thank you Miss Gertrude."

The sound of gravel beneath my feet along with the melodic hymn ingrained themselves into my memory. I was welcomed into the church family with open arms and the warmth of home wrapped itself around my young heart as I stood shivering on the bank of Big River.