Baptism Cake

I have two birthdays.

A lot of us do: the day that we were born and the day that we were baptized.

A lot of us, though, also have only one celebration a year; we only celebrate the day that we were born.

Not me! I celebrate the day that I was born again too. And it’s a gift that I think you should join in on.

I understand it can be easy to get caught up in life and have the anniversary of our baptism date rush past us or even forget the date altogether, but let’s reconsider what that day means. Both of the days, actually.

First, the day you were born. Why do we celebrate it? What makes it special?

YOU, of course! You are a beloved, precious, irreplaceable, unrepeatable child of God, and your birthday is the day that you took your first breath, the day you came into the world! You are so amazing, such a gift, that the first day the world got to experience you should be celebrated.

Now, what about the day you were baptized? Up until that day, there was something missing, hurting, dying inside you; that would be original sin. But on your baptism day, God wiped that clean. He killed what was killing you and breathed the life from His own lungs straight into the depths of your being. He signed the official adoption paper, brought you completely into His family (not that He was loving on you any less before), united Himself to you, and promised you Heaven.

That sounds like something pretty celebration worthy to me.

People celebrate their “second birthdays” as the day that they beat cancer, got a life-saving surgery, or overcame an addiction. Why not your baptism?

So go for it. Get to a church and ask for an extra special blessing today. Take time off to paint a picture, read a book, or watch a good movie, and for that hour or two, don’t let the rush of life disturb you. Give God some extra special family time, Mass or Adoration or even a quiet five minutes of just you and Him. Eat some ice cream. Walk or jog in the park.

Go on. Celebrate with His love in your heart.

Oh, and by the way…

HAPPY BAPTISM TO YOUUUUUU!!!