Baptism

"Mama, can you baptize the leaves?" the little girl asked.
"Honey, why in the world would you ask a question like that?"

"Well," she said, "Grandpa is always saying we get baptized so we can go to Heaven, and well, I know it's gonna be real pretty there, and I know Jesus has it fixed up just right, but I can't think of nothing more pretty here on earth than the leaves when they change colors, and I have a real hard time thinking God made anything more pretty than that, even in Heaven, so I thought maybe if we baptize the leaves, maybe those leaves'll go to Heaven just like we do and maybe when they get to Heaven, they'll just stay the pretty colors all the time and never fall off and die like they do now. All the trees would be real fine and their limbs would be real strong and never break there, cause there wouldn't be no wind or no storms to tear 'em down like they do here. Well, maybe there'd be just a little wind, just a cool breeze on a not too hot, just the perfect temperature for a little cool breeze kind of day. Those trees, they'd be just like us, whole again, whole forever, all fixed in their most perfect way, just like the angels. Just like we have wings them trees would have the most outstanding leaves and have them for all eternity."

Her mom thought for a minute, then answered, "Well, honey, I guess if God hears the wishes of our hearts, same as our prayers, you've found a real good thing to hope for. I sure do hope you're right. I ain't never dreamed of a mansion of gold no prettier than a maple in autumn. Well, it looks like we have some work to do. Let's get to it."

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