When Ainsley Earhardt would have a birthday as she was growing up, her mother would always say to her, “I’m so glad you were born.”

Earhardt has shared the inspiration and intent of her new book: “My mother always told us on our birthdays each year how glad she was that we were born — and now I love saying that to my daughter, Hayden. That was part of my inspiration to write a book that celebrates all the reasons we are so glad our children were born and how special they are. It reminds children they have a purpose, there’s a plan for their life, that God loves them, and they are worthy of having a wonderful life.”

“I wanted this book to encourage all of us to notice the traits that make a child special and help parents, grandparents, and caregivers to slow down and take the time to tell the children in their lives how grateful and appreciative they are for all the special things that make a child who they are and try to make everyday a celebration; shower kids with love and affection, and not just on their birthdays.” *

“I’m so glad you were born.”  That’s a statement worth repeating!

Our Creator God feels that way about each and every person; He loves each and every one (John 3:16).  He has a plan for each person that demonstrates how much He loves you, me, and every other person in the world.

God’s “plan” – His desire – is that each and every person in the world be born again into His family.

Our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and puts us on the path to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).  But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).  Through Jesus, we can have forgiveness of our sins and the privilege of becoming a child of God (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 8:15-17) with all the spiritual blessings found in being a member of His family (Ephesians 1:3).

God will save from sin, add to His family, and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sins.  This is how one is “born again” (John 3:3-5).  Then, God will continue to cleanse from sin and bless His children as they express their love and devotion by walking in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

You will not hear it audibly but rest assured that when you rise from the waters of baptism, the Father says, “I’m so glad you were born again.  Welcome to My family.  I will love and bless you forever.”

That’s a message that each of us needs to hear.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Why I wrote my new children's book, 'I'm So Glad You Were Born'” by Ainsley Earhardt, www.foxnews.com

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org