Flash back to the Summer of 2010. I was finishing up my last residency period for my Master’s Degree in Pastoral Administration. Wrapping up this degree meant new opportunities – perhaps working toward a dream Deborah, and I had to do marriage ministry presentations for churches around the state (or country). Perhaps it meant Deborah pursuing one of her own dreams, or going back to school herself. Naomi (the baby of the family) was a very independent 4 1/2 years old, and maybe it was time to work toward those dreams.
And then, SURPRISE. We were pregnant again.
We thought we were done. We were ready to be done. Ready to to move on to other great things. Talk of the future went out of the window like a flash, and it was back to diapers, sleepless nights, and the routine of welcoming a child into the family.
In many ways, it could not have come at a worse time. We were struggling with family unity as it was, not to mention the dreams we hoped to chase. Our oldest two boys were in public school (the rest were home-schooled), and were now under the influence of friends; a natural sequence, but nonetheless challenging at times. The youngest two seemed to be in competition to see who could need more attention than the other, which left the middle two to often fend for themselves. These dynamics seemed to lead to lead Deborah, and myself from one attempt to fill a child’s needs to another, to another. The attempts often came at the expense of doing activities together, and strangely enough did not seem to fully satisfy the child receiving undivided attention.
When we told our other kids the news, excitement was not unanimous. Our oldest two boys seemed particularly put out. This came as somewhat of a surprise to us, especially in our second son, Jordan, who has long enjoyed babies in the home. But, he is a teen, and experiences peer review (a.k.a. judgment) at school. Though it was disappointing to witness his reaction, it was also an understandable one.
Deborah ended up on bed-rest with eight weeks to go. This was somewhat expected as it happened on the two previous pregnancies. though expected, it put an additional pinch of serving our kids the way they desired. If it seemed we were going different directions before, bed-rest exacerbate this issue simply by accepting the generosity of friends to have our kids over to play more frequently. Our home seemed to have a revolving front door – family unity had left the building
Fast Forward to March 28, 2011. My favorite line that day was “She’s here! Her Name is Grace… and She’s Amazing!”
My favorite definition of Grace is “God’s Favor with us”. This turned out to be especially true in the weeks that followed her arrival, for our little Grace came into the Schroeder family in disarray, and brought us together.
Everyone want to be with her, hold her, look at her, and check up on her. We even caught the two oldest boys (who obviously did not want to be seen) attempting to sneak into her room to check up on her. Grace quickly became a rallying point – a central figure – for our family. In short order, the family that was – until recently – moving different directions was once again traveling together in one direction – with Grace.
Our family’s experience with our Grace, seems similar to how God’s Grace is received through the Sacraments of the Church. Sacraments are an outward sign instituted by Christ to give Grace. Grace – God’s Favor with us. When we receive God’s Favor into our Church family, the differences disappear. We no longer come from different directions, backgrounds, heritages, geographies, ideologies, etc. We are united by our rallying around the direct recipients of God’s Grace through the Sacrament to which we are all witness.
This spirit of unity permeates through each Sacrament; not only for the person directly receiving the Sacrament, but for all who witness. Baptism of a newborn especially brings together the Church community. We are almost all connected to the experience of the new parents as we once stood where they stand; both in proximity to the baptismal font, but also spiritually in proximity to witnessing the receipt of God’s Grace for that child. God’s Grace being received by that child unifies our community with promises to help raise the child, intention to pray for the parents, and casting aside – if only for a moment – the agendas and tasks that will fill our day once we leave Church. We are united as baptized for the baptized.
Yes, it is here! It is God’s Grace, and it is amazing!