Not only was it Mother’s Day; it was First Communion in our Episcopal Church.  I was reared Methodist, where “Confirmation” was empasized at around the age of 12 if I remember correctly.  I confess to having a conundrum:  how can children accept the Blessed Sacraments if they have not declared Jesus Christ as their Savior?  In the Baptist church I know they refer to it as an “altar call.”  Anyone, no matter how old or how young, may come down at the end of the service to proclaim Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  He was crucified for us, died, and was buried.  The third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.  And why do people differentiate Catholics from Christians?  As I have always understood it ANYone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord is considered Christian.  I do not know of any “Protestants” or “Catholics” or “Orthodox” Christians who do not believe this to be true.  The Nicene Creed also states Christ was “born of the Virgin Mary.”  It is interesting to me how some Protestant churches view Mariology as either idolatry or as some sort of heretical practice.  The Ever Blessed Virgin Mother Mary was chosen by God to bear His Son, who would become the Savior of the world.  Because I was confirmed at 8 1/2 I had to get special permission from the Methodist Church to study about the tenets of the Christian faith early.  One thing I have come to appreciate about the Roman Catholic Church is what they refer to as “the Holy Mysteries.”  I for one do not presume humankind has all the answers.  My favorite Bible verse is from 2 Corinthians 5:7 which says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  Several denominations do not receive Communion in the way Episcopalians do.  Instead of sitting in the pews accepting grape juice from tiny shot glasses, we come to the altar, kneeling before God, to accept the Body and Blood of Christ.  Now that I have risked offending the Protestants, here’s where I may lose some Catholic readers; I pray both sides forgive me.  I just do not like seeing little girls dressed up like mini brides for First Communion.  I believe in order for someone to be “wedded” to the church they must become either a nun or a priest.  Since our only child’s Holy Baptism at three months old, she has always come down to the altar to receive a blessing.  At first it was a given, as I held my little baby in my arms.  But as she became older she learned to cross her arms over her chest, meaning she would like to have a blessing, but was not ready to receive the Holy Eucharist.  My father loved St. Paul, and his favorite scripture came from Hebrews 11:1 which declares, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  My mother’s favorite passage was from Psalm 27 which proclaims, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  I find myself wondering what my little girl’s favorite scripture will one day be.  In the meantime, I have done my best to impress upon her the significance of partaking in the Lord’s Supper; to sup and dine with the community of saints and in fellowship with all Christians who believe.  I imagine — and hope — that as she grows so will her faith.  My mother took this picture of me on the left when I was confirmed on Father’s Day in 1979.  Forty years later — on Mother’s Day — my daughter would partake in her first Holy Communion wearing my old dress.  I have no words to describe my joy that we were both able to wear the same dress when we made our commitments to Christ.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt how very proud my parents would be.  The greatest gift my father left me was a legacy of true faith.  My mother showed me strength, poise, and gentleness in the face of adversity.  Whenever my child smiles, God has blessed me to be able to catch glimpses of each of them in her.  I have never known whether beloved family who believe can see us from heaven.  I pray if they could, one of those special moments would be of their only grandchild’s First Communion.