MY LITTLE FLOWER GIRL

“You are my little flower girl.” These words have stayed with me over the years. I still remember carrying you in my arms when you were a baby. You were so tiny, so full of life, completely unaware of what God had prepared for you. Like every child, your story had only just begun.

Then came my wedding day. You were my flower girl. With your little hands, you scattered flower petals down the aisle, preparing the way for the bride. Everyone smiled at your innocence. None of us imagined how quickly time would pass.

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, I found myself standing at another aisle. This time, I was no longer the groom. I was the pastor. And you were no longer the flower girl. You were the bride.

As I solemnized your marriage before God, I could hardly believe my eyes. The little girl I once carried in my arms was now beginning a new family of her own. It was one of those moments that quietly reminds a pastor how faithful God is through the passing years.

Then, before I knew it, another precious moment arrived. You became a mother.

Last Sunday, as I sprinkled water on your son and declared, “I baptize you in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God Holy Spirit,” my heart was overwhelmed. The same arms that once held you were now baptizing your son. This is the grace of overwhelming joy.

People often ask what is most rewarding about being a pastor. They may think it is preaching to large crowds or leading an influential ministry. Those are privileges, but they are not the deepest joy. The deepest joy is walking with God's people through the seasons of life: to celebrate a newborn, to teach children God's Word, to watch them grow into young men and women, to bless their marriage, to baptize their children, to pray beside hospital beds, to comfort grieving families, to celebrate God's faithfulness across generations.

Few things can compare with witnessing one generation after another growing under the gracious hand of God. Pastoral ministry is not merely about sermons or programs. It is about shepherding lives over decades, watching God's story unfold in ordinary yet holy moments.

As I stood there that day, holding your baby, my heart cried, “Thank You, Lord.” Thank You for letting me see this. Thank You for allowing me to witness Your faithfulness from one generation to the next.

Sometimes people ask how they can know whether God is calling them into pastoral ministry. I cannot answer that for them. But I do know this: if God calls you to shepherd His people, He will allow you to experience joys that are difficult to describe and impossible to measure. Perhaps someone reading this has been quietly wrestling with that call. In fact, I know at least one person among us who is. If that is you, don't ignore His voice.

The road of pastoral ministry is not easy. It demands sacrifice, perseverance, and a willingness to pour yourself out for others. Yet so often, God gives you a glimpse of His faithfulness that makes every sacrifice not sacrifice at all.

A little flower girl.

A beautiful bride.

A young mother.

A baby baptized into the covenant community.

Only God can write a story like that. And only He could grant a pastor the undeserved privilege of walking alongside.

Thank God, for 145 years, you have been faithfully watching over our church.

Thank God...

Thank God…

Building His Missional Community

Pastor Forest