Welcome to the World

One smile was all it took. To be christened today, baby had to rise three hours earlier than usual, deal with a strange environment with strange people, contend with pressing faces and hands, hear all manner of shocking new sounds, at unpredictable intervals; she had to be wet on the forehead three times, and have the sign of the cross put on her with sacred oil; finally, she was made to face the congregation for the presentation of her baptismal candle and a last blessing. This was the exact moment she chose to smile as though she understood everything – and liked it – and, of course, she did. She wore the white, crocheted garments worn by her mother to her baptism, 32 years ago. A white cap with silk ties made it all retro-hip and fabulous and yet simple and beautiful.

It was a hard and beautiful day, not only for our family, I suspect. Competing fears and interests and memories and blood-sugar levels aren’t always the ingredients of serenity one might want for such a ceremony. But for this family, and maybe even for the entire church, one smile was all it took. How we love her.