by Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life
Equipping Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life can be hard work even as it is enjoyable, fulfilling, needful, and necessary. I was reminded of this reality on more than one occasion last weekend as my family gathered to celebrate our nephew, David, and his confession of faith on Reformation Sunday. As is true of all confirmations, David’s Confirmation was deeply meaningful. Like others who have confessed the faith before him, he was able to say with certainty that he believed in Jesus and desired to remain in God’s family all the days of his life.
That confession, in and of itself, is enough to make my eyes a little watery. But knowing David’s circumstances made Sunday’s service even more moving. First, because David has been adopted twice—once by my brother and sister-in-law and once by God Himself. Mark and Kristy specifically chose David because he was unlikely to know Christ in the condition he was in; they were eager to bring him to the saving waters of Baptism, to “drown the Buddha out” as my brother used to say.
But what they didn’t know is that their little boy would grow up to have a very low IQ and pronounced learning disabilities. They didn’t know he would need extra emotional and physical support. They didn’t know they would need to plan to care for him even after they both pass away. And they didn’t know how much they would love him or what a gift he would be to the world. This second reason was more than enough to move me to tears.
While David’s faith is the work of the Holy Spirit, his Confirmation was made possible because God’s people are For Life people. David’s parents, pastors, and teachers served and encouraged him in the years leading up to his Confirmation, giving him the tools necessary to confess his faith. Just as importantly, though, they made sure David had the opportunity to serve others, to become Christ’s hands to the world, and to carry out some of God’s necessary work. This work, though tiring at times, was certainly work worth doing. Not only has it affirmed he is loved, but it has also enabled David to love others.
Which leads me back to you, partners in life ministry. The work you’re engaged in, the message you share, the service you provide others is also work worth doing, and thankfully, you don’t have to do it alone. God has richly blessed His Church with countless skills and abilities, and though we may occasionally be tired, He renews us each day, working through our baptismal waters to forgive, refresh, and refine us. May we rejoice in the opportunity we have to work together in this time and this place to support the lives of others!