Ridgell's Originals

Our granddaughter Anna Claire Ridgell was baptized by her Mom and Dad last Sunday morning.  Here are some of my thoughts.

There is something incredibly emotional about watching the first one of your family's next generation obey the gospel.

Listening to her Dad, Joe Don, talk about her journey and take her confession was something I will never forget.

I talked to Anna.  I read her statement of faith.  She gets it.

Anna has loved God for all of her life.  She has been able to talk about Jesus for a long, long time.  But it was so meaningful to watch as she made Jesus her faith choice.

She believes not because of her parent's faith, but because of her faith.

It is pretty cool to listen to -- and to tell -- baptism stories of parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and great grandparents.  Anna has a long heritage of faith on both sides of her family.  But she also has a lot of conversion stories, especially from our side.

Watching Anna's pure and passionate faith, seeing the incredible love of her parents, surrounded by family and friends ... well, it is easy to see why church is the best family ever.

And it was a great testimony to our belief that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

I have no doubt God will use Anna in great ways.  I have no doubt that Satan will attack her and that her hardest fighting for her faith is ahead of her.

I also have no doubt she will be faithful to the end.

Joe Don and Jamie are really great parents.  I think it is because they each love Jesus more than anyone or anything else.  I also think it is because they love each other more than their kids.  But they have let God do a great work in raising Anna Claire to this point.

So Anna Claire, as you heard over and over last weekend.  Mimi and Pops love you and are so proud of you.  We have prayed for this day since we first knew you were coming in to our family.  We are so excited to see what God will do thru you for the Kingdom in the days and years  to come.

You are smart, pretty, athletic, and fun.  None of those things make us as proud as your passion for Jesus.

So God, thanks for Anna Claire.  She was and is a gift from you.  All of us have committed her to you from the day of her birth.  And now she has committed herself to you.  Thank you.  Protect her, use her, strengthen her until the day your Son comes back to take us all home.