Yesterday was Grandfather's Day
I know the official calendar says yesterday was a maternal sort of day. My calendar says otherwise and it’s all because of what happened seven years ago. Don’t get me wrong, I sent the appropriate cards and made the appropriate phone calls to all the right people. It was still Mother’s Day, but I think my family would agree with my addition to the day’s celebrations.
Seven years ago, I saw my grandfather get baptized at the age of 90. Ever since, I can’t help but think about him on this day along with my mother and grandmother. To me, this is just as much his day.
I remember walking in the doors of the church in Ore City that morning. This was all his plan and it was a surprise to my grandmother. We sat at our family pew - about four rows back and far to the left. We watched my grandmother walk out to take her seat with the choir and saw her jump as she looked out at her family smiling at her, as a sort of Mother’s Day gift. She had no idea what was really in store that day.
My grandfather, Tuck, picked this to be the day that he was finally baptized. He did it to honor his wife and her faith. She has consistently modeled what it is like to be devoted to Christ. I grew up going with her on nursing home visits or meetings with people who were unable to leave their home. My life is filled with strong women of strong faith and I am so much the better for it!
When the pastor called up those who wished to be baptized, my grandfather stood up. My eyes were on my grandmother the entire time and her eyes were wide. Our family stood with him in support, just as he stood in support with us so many times before, and we watched in awe at an encounter with God’s grace.
I don’t know why Tuck was never baptized before. I imagine it had to do with someone telling him he had to do so in order to really be saved. He knew better than that. He knew God’s grace doesn’t move in our life because of actions we take. No, we act because of God’s grace already moving in our lives. Baptism is a sign of grace, not a requirement for it. I always supposed he intended to prove that, though I never knew for sure.
What I did know was this he was a man of sincere faith long before the water ever touched his head. We talked of it often. He never missed a Sunday service and was always a leader in his church and community. Here was a man who lived faith. He was well matched in marriage!
Since then, Mother’s Day has had a new meaning for me. It’s a day to think about the significance of water in God’s story. It’s a day to think about God’s promise to us through baptism. It’s a day to think about Tuck. It’s Grandfather’s Day!
