Sunday, November 11, 2007

a letter to my daughter on her baptismal day


This morning was the greatest day of your life, and the second greatest of mine only to the first day I ever saw you. This morning, you were re-born, into the greatest family of all – the family of God. This morning you were baptized, washed with living water, sealed with the Spirit, and marked with the Cross of Christ forever. You have always belonged to God, and through the unfailing nature of God’s promise, God let you know it, God has chosen you! How exciting! How amazing! Today, your baptism was a sign and testimony of God’s grace, awakening, and creating faith. It is now the promises of your father, your God-parents, this new Christian family, and me to nurture your newly developing faith, to encourage your questions and inspire you to think about God’s gifts of grace as precious and yours to share, to support you as you grow and discover the ways God loves and cares for you personally, and to help you learn how to spread God’s love liberally in everything you do and say and are. I look in your giant deep blue eyes, Hazel, and am inspired to teach you this love. To teach you the truest meaning of community, and faith, and trust, and compassion. I live for the day you realize the strength you can receive from the mutual comfort and consolation your brothers and sisters in Christ share with you. And I pray that you will continue in the covenant God made with you this day by participating in the community of Christ, hearing the Word and receiving Christ’s Supper, by proclaiming the good news in word and deed, and by striving for justice and peace in all the world. May you never need to ask me for support, because you’ll always know I’m here, and my love – not unlike Gods – is unconditional, always available, and free.
And guess what else Bean? You are dually blessed with sharing a spiritual birthday with your handsome father! May you always and forever remember how special that is. And, as you blossom into a lovely young woman, and your father continues to grow and challenge his faith, I pray that you two create and keep this day as a special memorial of the blessing you have to be father and daughter.
Nakupenda Hazel – Akubariki (I love you – God bless you).

2 comments:

RuthAnn said...

This is so very beautiful. What a treasure for Hazel to have.

RuthAnn said...
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