Letting Her Alone
Stories
56 Stories For Preaching
"Well, isn't that something!" the pastor said to his very
pregnant wife as he helped her back into their car. Walking
around the car to the driver's side, he shook his head in
disbelief. "I can not believe my very own eyes," he went on as he
sat down in his own seat and did up the buckle.
"I can't believe it either," Sharon laughed, shaking her head
in disbelief. "Did you see all the gifts, Ben? The whole bedroom
was literally full: jewelry, clothes, toys, blankets, paintings
for his wall. There must have been 100 cards and all that money
just sitting there on the dresser! I looked! There was at least
$400."
"I only glanced in the room but I gathered there were more
gifts there than in our whole house at Christmas! I couldn't get
over the food: that's the first time I've ever seen pigs roasting
on a spit and two of them yet! The grandfather said they were
flown in especially for today! And all that wine -- all of it
imported too! Breads, salads, fruits, desserts everywhere! And
that enormous cake! The parents were such gracious hosts! I'm
absolutely full! How many guests do you think were there?" He put
the key in the starter and turned the engine on.
"Well, at one point I counted 34 people in the house and at
least 30 in the backyard. More were coming. They had even rented
the hall in case it rained. They didn't even mind losing their
deposit when the weather turned nice and they decided to hold the
reception in their backyard. That's $150 right there! Plus the
musicians in the house and a DJ in the garden! I've never seen
anything like it! What extravagance! And all because of a baby's
baptism! I can't believe it! I bet that party will go on until
after midnight."
"Most of the guests are from out of town and will have to stay
over in a hotel. There's another $100 per family. Yet they're not
rich people, Sharon! Most of them have only recently come to
America. They work in the mines and some just in the fields. Yet
a baby's baptized and all this celebration breaks forth! Shall we
do it for ours next month?" He smiled as he gently patted
Sharon's enormous waist. "Heh! I felt a little kick! Our child
Sharon. What do you say? Shall we have a big party when ours is
baptized?"
"On our salary? Not a hope! Besides, if we had that kind of
money, it would be better spent! And imagine all the energy in
organizing that! Who's got time for it? Especially with a new
baby in the house!"
"You know, Sharon, as we were leaving, the parents had tears
in their eyes and the father said words to me I'll never forget.
'Oh, Pastor, thank you' -- he said -- 'Thank you for bringing God
into our child's life and our child into God's People -- this is
so important for us!' No one ever said that to me before. I
really matter to them because I am the pastor. You don't suppose
they've understood something about baptism we haven't -- do you?
... Nah! They're just immigrants having an expensive party. If
only they'd put the money into our sanctuary fund ...!"
The car drove off, with the sounds of laughter and celebration
quickly fading behind them.
pregnant wife as he helped her back into their car. Walking
around the car to the driver's side, he shook his head in
disbelief. "I can not believe my very own eyes," he went on as he
sat down in his own seat and did up the buckle.
"I can't believe it either," Sharon laughed, shaking her head
in disbelief. "Did you see all the gifts, Ben? The whole bedroom
was literally full: jewelry, clothes, toys, blankets, paintings
for his wall. There must have been 100 cards and all that money
just sitting there on the dresser! I looked! There was at least
$400."
"I only glanced in the room but I gathered there were more
gifts there than in our whole house at Christmas! I couldn't get
over the food: that's the first time I've ever seen pigs roasting
on a spit and two of them yet! The grandfather said they were
flown in especially for today! And all that wine -- all of it
imported too! Breads, salads, fruits, desserts everywhere! And
that enormous cake! The parents were such gracious hosts! I'm
absolutely full! How many guests do you think were there?" He put
the key in the starter and turned the engine on.
"Well, at one point I counted 34 people in the house and at
least 30 in the backyard. More were coming. They had even rented
the hall in case it rained. They didn't even mind losing their
deposit when the weather turned nice and they decided to hold the
reception in their backyard. That's $150 right there! Plus the
musicians in the house and a DJ in the garden! I've never seen
anything like it! What extravagance! And all because of a baby's
baptism! I can't believe it! I bet that party will go on until
after midnight."
"Most of the guests are from out of town and will have to stay
over in a hotel. There's another $100 per family. Yet they're not
rich people, Sharon! Most of them have only recently come to
America. They work in the mines and some just in the fields. Yet
a baby's baptized and all this celebration breaks forth! Shall we
do it for ours next month?" He smiled as he gently patted
Sharon's enormous waist. "Heh! I felt a little kick! Our child
Sharon. What do you say? Shall we have a big party when ours is
baptized?"
"On our salary? Not a hope! Besides, if we had that kind of
money, it would be better spent! And imagine all the energy in
organizing that! Who's got time for it? Especially with a new
baby in the house!"
"You know, Sharon, as we were leaving, the parents had tears
in their eyes and the father said words to me I'll never forget.
'Oh, Pastor, thank you' -- he said -- 'Thank you for bringing God
into our child's life and our child into God's People -- this is
so important for us!' No one ever said that to me before. I
really matter to them because I am the pastor. You don't suppose
they've understood something about baptism we haven't -- do you?
... Nah! They're just immigrants having an expensive party. If
only they'd put the money into our sanctuary fund ...!"
The car drove off, with the sounds of laughter and celebration
quickly fading behind them.
