Hello friends! I hope everyone had a blessed and fulfilling Easter! Jesus is Risen! Praise God!

We’ve all heard it…”the third time’s the charm!” I will get to my “third time” experience in a few paragraphs. First you need some background. Warning: You will read the word “I” a lot!

I’ve written in the past about how I can be a bit stubborn. Yep…I wholeheartedly admit it. It seems like no matter what, I have to learn everything the hard way. I want to be in control. Some of you might go as far as to call me a control freak.

I’m not sure if I’m honored or annoyed by that term, but I do know that I can be a bit annoying myself at times. Some people closest to me might tell you that my annoying traits have been more the norm lately. You see friends, in addition to being a control freak, I’m also a perfectionist.

Whew! You put those two together and that’s a recipe for disaster.

During the past five years, I took care of my sweet Momma after my wonderful Daddy passed away in November 2018. I would not trade that time for anything, as it taught me a lot about both Mom and myself. We made a lot of great memories. It was truly the honor of a lifetime.

You see, Dad was the consummate protector. When he passed away, Mom was lost. As their most seasoned (OK–oldest) child, I felt like it was my job to take care of her. So I tried…and tried…and tried…to no avail, to help her to find happiness without Dad. Then a little over a year ago, with Mom’s memory declining, we moved her into assisted living. I say “we,” but Mom was not happy about losing her independence. I guess my stubbornness comes from her because she did not like losing any bit of control over her life.

It was during this time that I had an epiphany of sorts. I finally realized that it had not been my job to make Mom happy, but it was her responsibility to find her own happiness. I wrote Mom a long love letter telling her this, hoping it would spark some energy to make the best of any time she still had in this world. But sadly, it didn’t.

Mom’s health continued to decline, and she was diagnosed with “failure to thrive” syndrome just a few months after she began assisted living. She had fallen and required surgery about a month into her new living arrangements. That took a major toll on her health, and after rehab she was moved into memory care. Mom continued to decline.

It became apparent that losing Dad literally broke her heart. Let me tell you friends, losing a parent is one of the most difficult things we go through. Watching Mom die of a broken heart was excruciating. She finally went Home to be reunited with Daddy on January 10, 2024.

My grief was mixed with relief. Mom was a Christian, and I had no doubt that she went home to meet her Savior, so thankfully I did not have to be concerned about that. I was truly grateful.

Then came the responsibility of managing Mom’s estate. I fully admit that I have been very difficult these past couple of months. You see, as a perfectionist/control-freak, I take responsibility very seriously, and I have expectations that others follow suit. Some may tell you that I take things “too seriously.” I apologize if I’ve hurt anyone during this process. There are no special classes that teach you this impossible job. There are a few self-help guides for Estate Executors, but no real guides on how to handle the estate and your grief, as well as the grief of others at the same time.

Friends, I’m exhausted…physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ was waning. I never stopped believing, but my prayer life became sporadic and cluttered. This is where “the third time’s the charm” comes in to play.

God put it on my heart to get baptized again, for the third time. I was in desperate need of spiritual renewal.

God’s Word tells us “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 3:21 (NIV). In Romans 6:4 (NIV), The Bible tells us “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

So on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, I was immersed in the waters of baptism once again. This was my second immersion, and I was baptized as an infant. The first time I was immersed, I literally felt bullet-proof that day. I wondered how a second time would feel. Let me tell you, it was the most comforting experience I have had in a long time. I did not want to get out of the baptismal!

The baptismal water enveloped me in warmth and peace. I could feel God’s loving arms around me, telling me that He’s with me now more than ever. It was just what I needed to renew my faith and my strength.

So, maybe the third time’s the charm for me…maybe not. The waters of baptism welcome us at any time with unlimited visits. If you have never been baptized by immersion, I highly recommend it, and I’d be honored to baptize you! There is truly no experience that even compares! I would be happy to share more on what The Bible says about baptism. Please contact me any time!

I’m not banking on this third time. I may get immersed a 4th, 5th, or 6th time. Who knows? But what I do know for sure, is that God will be there each and every time, just as he is with us as we walk along our life’s journey. Thank you all for being with me on this incredible journey.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the sacrifice of your only Son, Jesus Christ! I humbly come to you and I ask you to bless and protect the person reading this. If they do not yet know your Precious Son, Jesus, I ask that you put a yearning on their heart to meet Him and get to know Him better. I pray that everyone will choose to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and receive Eternal Life in Your Heavenly Kingdom. It is in His most Precious Name I pray, Amen.