Cartwheels of JOY

"I'm singing joyful praise to God.  I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God." 

Habakkuk 3:18 (The Message)

This past Sunday was certainly one filled with pure JOY!  Every Mother's Day for the last six years, I have sat in the pew with quiet longings as I watched the newest precious babies during our hometown church's baby dedication service.  Every year I prayed that my face not show my sadness and, at times, even bitterness as I watched these happy, giddy parents promise to raise these children in church and to teach them about God and His love.  It is also a time the church promises to lift these families up as they take on the responsibility they are charged with.

Sunday was our day.  The day we have prayed for and longed for.  Sunday was the day Russ and I dedicated precious Millie Janalee in front of our hometown church family.

Our day began with a special delivery.  Russ, Millie Janalee, and I stayed at Russ's parents house.  Sunday morning, Millie Janalee had a gift on the front porch from my mom.  Susu wrote Millie Janalee a letter explaining the contents of the gift.  This precious heirloom handkerchief was made by my great great aunt (Aunt Num Num) that Millie Janalee was named after.  She made the hanky for Nonnie, who carried it in her wedding in 1947.  My mom took that hanky and made it into a sweet "hanky doll" for Millie Janalee to carry on her dedication day.  Russ and I sat in the floor with Millie Janalee and this hanky doll with tears in our eyes.  The thoughtfulness and meaning behind such a gift was overwhelming. 

In all the excitement of getting ready, seeing family coming from near and far, and planning lunch afterwards, it is refreshing to take a moment and realize the immensity of the responsibility Russ and I are charged with under God.  In Proverbs, it says "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." What an amazing honor.  And an incredible responsibility.  Like my baptism, my Baccalaureate service, and my wedding...we are blessed that my dad plays such a special role in these moments.  He baptized me, presented me in front of the church as a graduate, and married us.  Now, he was a part of Millie Janalee's dedication as he handed us her Bible from the church.

We also shared our life verse we chose for Millie Janalee with our hometown church family.  Since the day Millie Janalee was placed in my arms, she has brought us nothing but JOY!  She exudes joy through her eyes, her smile, her disposition.  Russ and I have prayed that no one ever try to steal her joy.  And, even if they do (which they will), we continue to pray that she not let them.  We pray that she always finds JOY in our Savior.  So much joy that she cannot contain it...doing "cartwheels of joy" along her life journey.  Millie Janalee's life verse is Habakkuk 3:18.

There were ten babies dedicated Sunday.  That's a lot of babies, y'all!  Precious boys and girls looking to their parents and their church family for guidance.  It was a privilege for Russ and I to stand in front of the congregation and promise to teach Millie Janalee the way she should go.  And it was an honor to stand in front of the congregation as they recognize their responsibility to influence these children toward God and His righteousness.

Russ and I felt covered in love and prayers!  Especially as we saw the faces of our precious family and friends.  We are thankful for those family members who traveled near and far to celebrate this day with us.  We caught a few of them before they headed to our special lunch.

Granmomma, me, Millie Janalee, and Russ

Sweet friends...Millie Janalee and Caroline

Millie Janalee and Pop

Millie Janalee and Pawpaw

Millie Janalee and her friend Micah

Russ and I were raised in the pews of church.  We were raised knowing that there is nowhere more important to be on Sundays and Wednesdays than church.  If our Saturday night plans kept us from getting to church on Sunday...then maybe we needed to stay home on Saturdays.  We were raised in strong Christian homes with the guidance we pray we are able to provide to Millie Janalee. 

I have many, many memories in these church pews.  And I love seeing my daughter sitting in those pews with a smile on her face.  Filled with joy.  She may not know why.  But, I do.  I pray she always feel that joy and happiness in the comfort of her church family. 

I promise to be sitting beside her.

In those pews.

(Maybe even inflicting the occasional "itty bitty pinch" when she's talking to her friends.)

(You know the one.  Surely I'm not the only preacher's kid who endured such experiences.)

I will be there because I have been given the great responsibility of raising Millie Janalee in the way she should go...so that when she's old she will not depart from it.