Joyfully Becca: Hattie's Dedication

We dedicated Harriet to the Lord today in the presence of our church family. Our pastor explained how baby dedication comes from Hannah, the woman in the Bible who could not conceive a child for years over years, and wept to the Lord that if He gave her a baby she would 'give him to the Lord.' God is faithful and Hannah does conceive and has a little baby boy. And when her baby Samuel is weaned, she fulfills her part of the promise as well, and dedicates him to the Lord...and actually gives him to be raised in the temple.

Harriet's dedication was similar as we made promises to raise her with the same teachings: to know her Creator, to love her Savior, to come to love the scriptures, and to recognize her gifts in the Holy Spirit. Then the congregation promised to help train her in the ways she should go and to keep our family lifted up in prayer.

We had the Groves family up with us and it was a sweet visual of all of the love and support this little baby has right in her own family. Just as she was surrounded by family at her baptism. I've said it before, but somewhere, generations before me there was a family that decided to repent of their sins and turn their hearts to Jesus. They started living by faith and not by fear, and listening to God's voice. I don't know who that family was. We only know of Christian ancestors all the way back to Sweden. But whoever they are, they are on my short list of "find first in heaven." Because the legacy they have left...the life they have left their descendants is the real thing and I can't wait to thank them for planting the seed of faith in our family. No joy can top the joy we felt this morning. My heart felt so full and my soul so satisfied. God is good. And that sounds like a cliche until you really know his goodness and then those words ring true right into your core and his love flows through your blood and his Holy Spirit pours out of your every breath. I would wish this hope that I have for every person on the planet.

Pastor Brent prayed over Hattie, Papa prayed for her, and I read Psalm 91, the Psalm we have nicknamed "Hattie's Psalm," because it has become the promise we have clung to since she was only 5 months in my womb. Then Rory prayed, our friend Danny spoke a powerful prophecy over her life, Max prayed a mighty prayer and Jen spoke a word by calling Hattie's spirit to attention. And when she did, Harriet sat up straight and smiled a huge smile right at her. She listened to each word Jen spoke and confirmed every sentence with a smile so huge we were all captivated. She was receiving those words with joy. It was a joyful morning, full of promises and thanksgivings.