Timos started second grade at North American Martyrs. He had his good friend there, by now his absolute BEST friend, even though he was a year older. And that man we knew pretty well from soccer? The one who started this whole leg of our journey with a text? He was Garen’s sponsor for becoming a Catholic and his wife, by now a dear friend, was MY sponsor! So we began with some connections that helped us feel plugged in.
Timos loved the school from the very first day. Going to Mass every morning was a comfort and a privilege that Timos wrapped around his soul. But I was uneasy about something, and I just couldn’t let it go.
I needed to find Baptism records for Timos so he could do First Communion with his second-grade class. I reached out to Timos’ Auntie via our friend Aggrey, and she said he had indeed been Baptized. God told me to ask again. I got the same answer, but I just could not accept it. My heart would not rest. Poor Aggrey, he was getting frustrated with me asking over and over again.
One day I asked him to please ask the Auntie one more time. I asked him to tell her that if Timos had NOT been Baptized we could fix it. And that is when I got the reply that my Spirit knew was coming. Timos’ first Mom and Dad were planning his Baptism when they got sick and died. The Auntie feared Timos would not be allowed to go to Catholic school unless he had undergone the Sacrament of Baptism, so she told us what she thought would be best for him. Timos was NOT Baptized.
I knew that telling him was not going to be easy. Timos got very quiet and silent tears ran down his little face. The fact that we could get him Baptized now was no consolation. He feared dying while unbaptized and nothing any of us said could make this okay for him. The Faith of this little Catholic boy has humbled me every day.
While Timos was upset, I was in awe. God had revealed this to me. That is how important the Sacraments are to the Lord our God. God wanted Timos Baptized and He whispered to my heart to keep asking.
Garen and I were secretly overjoyed that we got to be there for the Baptism of our youngest son. We had missed so very many firsts. Timos’ first steps, first words, first tumble that needed to be consoled. But we got to be there for this, and it made us so happy.
One day after Mass, with his big brothers, his grandpa and his grandma, his teacher, his principal, all there to witness, as well as his best friend and his parents, who were now Timos’ Godparents, Timos was Baptized. I could not contain my tears. Our youngest son was surrounded by so many loving, supportive hearts as he consciously made this decision, this open display of his Faith and it was a beautiful thing.
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