SA10 - Why Get Baptized?

During school drop off this morning, I approached some of the parents and asked if there is something that a person sacrifices continuously throughout their lifetime. One father suggested that parents sacrifice a great deal for their children, and this selflessness can persist for a lifetime. I was moved by this notion and as I pondered it further, I thought about the sacrifices made by immigrants in pursuit of a better life for their children, even if it involves relocating to a foreign country.

Families in developing countries may face a wide range of challenges that can motivate them to leave their home countries in search of a better life. Some are surrounded by poverty, lack of access to healthcare and education, political instability, violence, illegal activity, and persecution. Many families feel trapped in a cycle of despair, leaving them with little hope for a better future. The decision to leave their home country is often a difficult and painful one, but for many families, it represents the only chance to build a better life and secure a brighter future for their children.

One day, a mother and father with three young children made the difficult decision to leave everything they knew behind and start a new life in a new country. The journey was long and arduous, filled with uncertainty and danger. They left behind their home, their friends, and their extended family, not knowing what they would encounter. They were determined to make a better life for their children, and they had faith that their sacrifices would be worth it in the end.

After many months of hardship, hunger, dehydration, and the constant threat of loss of life, they finally arrived in their new country, only to be faced with new challenges and obstacles. They were determined to succeed, so the father worked long hours at multiple jobs to make ends meet, while the mother worked non-stop to learn the new language and teach the children vital elements about their new life, things that their school could not. They were focused on making the most of their new opportunities.

Despite the sacrifices, the father and mother were grateful for the chance to build a better life. Assimilating into a new country came with many challenges, for there were numerous things that they needed to do to integrate into the community, things that were completely unnecessary in their native country. They didn’t look at these things as prohibitions, but instead, they viewed them as opportunities to become a part of the community, they built relationships with others and became incorporated into the fabric of their new society.

In comparison to their former life, they soon realized that they had greater freedom and security. But they had to remain on guard as there were many who would spread lies about the government, portraying it as selfish and dishonest by withholding what is good from the people. Their lies would poison the minds and hearts of many, but not for this immigrant father and mother. They understood that these things were not the truth, because every good thing that they enjoyed came from this generous and loving country. They ignored this hateful rhetoric that many others digested, understanding that it could lead them towards thinking unrighteous thoughts and practicing wicked conduct, the same as it had for many of the other groups that surrounded their immigrant community.

This mother and father demonstrated their love for their new country by taking the necessary steps to become citizens. That step became a happy milestone, a great turning point because they could officially start their new lives, lives that were no longer simply for themselves, but for their children and their new community. They recognized that, as big of a step this was, it would pave the way for the very best life.

Their sacrifices did not end there, these parents continued to face new challenges and obstacles as they adjusted to their new life. They missed their old home, their old culture, and their extended family, but they kept this in its proper place by acknowledging that these were all parts of their old way of life.

From time to time, they struggled with language barriers and other differences, but they never questioned their dedication because they knew that there was no better use they could ever make of their lives. They appreciated all that it took so that they could live in such a wonderful country, and they could say without a doubt that their love for their new country was the best reason to become full-fledged citizens.

Do you have a comment that did not get mentioned during the Watchtower study? What encouraging observations would you like to point out? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.