This was no ordinary Sunday. At least not for Jennifer and her family. As little baby Jimmy cooed and frantically reach for all the hands that were touching him, he was happy to be made a fuss all over. The ladies who were attending the baptism all marveled at how adorable he is. As Jennifer passed around homemade butter cookies in a favor gift bag, she heard some of them talking about her unmarried status. Nevertheless, today was about Jimmy, not her. Jimmy was her precious package now and she couldn’t bear to part with him again.

The priest asked Jennifer to place Jimmy in the crib on the altar. The sixteen year old mother was sobbing ever so softly as she adjusted his blanket. She regretted so much for her initial thought of aborting it when she knew about Jimmy. It was only through God’s good graces that she finally agreed to protect this life. Jennifer slowly touches her son’s cheek and was rewarded by a big toothless grin. Father Adrian started the baptismal introduction. Jennifer wiped away her tears and hurriedly took her place among the congregation.

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“Don’t fidget, Asha, or I will tell Sister!”

“Oh, can’t you just tie my ribbon on without complaining, Nalini!”

“Children, are you ready? Mala, your sash’s here! Come, all of you, let us go to the chapel. Mother Priyanka’s waiting!”

The three girls quieted down and went through Sister Anita to make sure all of them were clean and tidy looking. All of them then head to the little chapel at the corner of St Theresa’s Orphanage. As the girls pass through the garden, they loose all their poise and start talking and prancing among the jasmines and azaleas in the garden. It was truly beautiful, thanks to the efforts of the students and the sisters of the orphanage. It was the least they can do after the chapel was restored from generous alms giving from the community. At least, it does not look as bad as the derelict classrooms beside it.

Being one of the strict sisters among the orphanage, she was about to open her mouth but she stop. She understood those children and had no intentions of breaking that joy on this special day. She, like them, were the children who were being left alone, abused and had lived a hard life from birth on the streets of Calcutta. It was here where she discovered there was some goodness in this world.


“Come in children. Here, take these favors and give it to your new siblings.” Mother Priyanka gestured them to the gift bags lying on the floor.

Asha, being the shy one, hesitated but was push in front by her two friends. Behold! There were chocolates inside those bags. All those who came up to receive these favors were beaming from ear to ear.

Mother began to ask the children to quiet down. As she bowed her heads in prayer, she gave thanks to God as she welcomes Asha, Nalini and Mala into the orphanage and into God’s embrace of love.

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It was Easter morning. But it was just like any other day for Seng. His lungs were killing him and taking his life bit by bit everyday. He ignored the pain and turned his attention on the wooden crucifix above his bed.

42 years is a short and long time for Seng. It was long enough to savour the happiness of a booming business. It was long enough to witness the joy of having Ai Ling and baby Meng as a part of his family. However, it was too short for his marriage to Ai Ling. Minna came and ruined the family as she tempted Seng into her snares.

Although Seng begged for forgiveness, Ai Ling couldn’t take the breach of trust and walked out of his life completely.

Minna, like an unwelcome guest at a party, began to tearing down pieces of Seng. He was too blinded by lust to see the toll it was taking on his business and his little boy. Eventually, he lost everything. His son walked out of his life after he became a victim of his father’s abuse and insults. Seng was filled with feelings of hate against God and started to blame everything on him. He became a slave to drugs, women and alcohol as he walked across life in a breezy mood. However, his unhealthy lifestyle came back and strikes him at the weakest part. It was a six letter word which jolted Seng from his current life and began to regret on his actions. Cancer.

Despite much protest, Seng managed to convince the nurses to bring him to the chapel he and Ai Ling were married at. He wanted to confess his sins before it was too late for him. As the chapel door began to open, Seng squinted at the familiar face behind it. The priest was trembling as he held Seng’s hand tightly.

“Father, I need to confess my sins. Can you help me?”
The young priest looks deeply into his eyes. “If you repent, the Lord will forgive. But would you forgive me too, my father?”

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Baptism – an act of christening and renewing ones life without placing limitation on age, race or any earthly bounds. When we are given an opportunity to forgive our sins and welcoming Gods love, it is the best baptism favor we can give not only to us but the people around us as we share the ultimate gift of love.

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Elizabeth Ellis is a leading expert in all personalized gifts and has written a number of articles related to baptism gifts, personalized photo mugs, baby shower favors and so on. Please visit peculiarstuffs.com to read her other highly regarded work on such details as baptism favors, baby gifts, photo mugs and so on.