Poems, Readings and Blessings
Celebrating and Welcoming your baby is a very special day. I am happy to write individual ceremonies, collaborate with you, or feel free to write, find or put one together yourself. In many of the ceremonies, parents choose to read a blessing themselves or by a family member or friend or have me the officiant read one. If you are looking for a reading, poem or blessing to add to your ceremony, I have provided many below. They are separated into categories, but some fit into more than one. Please, as with all planning for this wondrous event, add or change anything you would like in any way you want. I have added a little something for everyone; parents, adoptions, family, religions, other cultures, and alternative readings.
Celebrating and Welcoming your baby is a very special day. I am happy to write individual ceremonies, collaborate with you, or feel free to write, find or put one together yourself. In many of the ceremonies, parents choose to read a blessing themselves or by a family member or friend or have me the officiant read one. If you are looking for a reading, poem or blessing to add to your ceremony, I have provided many below. They are separated into categories, but some fit into more than one. Please, as with all planning for this wondrous event, add or change anything you would like in any way you want. I have added a little something for everyone; parents, adoptions, family, religions, other cultures, and alternative readings.
Readings, Poetry and Blessings Regarding Baby
There Is A Song
by Spike Milligan
There is a song in man
There is a song in woman
And that is the child's song.
When that song comes
There will be no words.
Do not ask where they are.
Just listen to the song.
Listen to it-
Learn it-
It is the greatest song of all
Untitled
Author Unknown
What shall we call you,
one who comes across a vast distance
bearing secrets of the future,
your father’s hidden wishing,
and the remembrance of beauty that hung diffusely in the air
all those long years without you?
We call you the awaited one,
the dreamt of one, the sung one,
for we sing to you now a symphony of welcomes,
and wish for your smooth passage to the world.
As if you were sweet basil,
as if you were mountain rosemary,
as if you were the golden sweetness of the apple
and the pear at harvest time.
You sweeten your mother’s innermost heart
and ripen her for every greater mystery-
For she has kissed the hem of the most Beloved
in calling you forth,
sheltering a wild faith in life.
Like a rose folded inward, hiding great fragrance,
like a host watching over the sheep
of the most cherished guest,
You were so tenderly awaited.
Little one, we sing to you now,
calling you joy,
calling you promise fulfilled,
calling you sheer vastness and little drop of honey.
You joined us here.
May your earthly journey be cloaked
with songs and praises evermore.
Your mother and father’s vast hearts,
deepening as they awaited you;
Every tear they've ever shed for joy gathering and intensifying-
For you, little drop of honey,
coming across great distances
just to see their faces at last,
just to gaze upon the face of Love at last.
A Baby Is A Miracle
Author unknown
This little tiny baby,
Was sent from God above,
To fill our hearts with happiness,
And touch our lives with love,
He must have known,
We’d give our all,
And always do our best.
To give our precious baby love,
And be grateful and so blessed.
Untitled
Excerpts from Francis Thompson and William Blake
Know you what it is to be a child? ... It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of
baptism; it is to believe in love, to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief; it is to be so little
that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear; it is to turn pumpkins into coaches, and mice
into horses, lowness into loftiness, and nothing into everything, - for each child has a fairy god-
mother in his/her own soul; it is to live in a nutshell and count yourself the king/queen of
infinite space; it is:
To see the World in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Untitled (sometimes called "My Dear Child")
Author Unknown
You are the poem
I dreamed of writing,
The masterpiece
I longed to paint.
You are the shining star
I reached for in my ever-hopeful quest
For life fulfilled...
You are my child.
Now with all things
I am blessed.
Untitled
Author Unknown
She’s a little bit of sunshine
She’s a smile to light our days
She will steal our hearts and
Keep them with her warm endearing ways
She’s our precious little daughter
With a sweetness from above
Who will fill our years with laughter
And our lives with lots of love.
Untitled
Author unknown
Hello there little fellow!
The good news is going ’round
That you’ve made a “happy Landing”
And arrived all safe and sound
Well this just comes to tell you
That you’re lucky as can be
To become the newest member
Of so nice a family!
These Are The Years
Author Unknown
These are the years, the gentle years
the soft and sentimental years
when wee little fingers reach and touch
and little eyes gaze with wonder and trust,
when you love so tenderly and so much
these are the gentle years.
These are the years, the rainbow years
the quiet walk on tiptoe years,
the years of laughter and smiles and sighs
when both of you watch with misty eyes
the tiny bed where a cherub lies,
these are the rainbow years.
These are the years, the tender years,
the blissful, sweet-surrender years
when your little treasure from above
is the soul and purpose and center of
your plans and dreams and dearest love,
these are the tender years.
A Boy Is . . .
Author Unknown
Trust with dirt on its face,
Beauty with a cut on its finger.
Wisdom with bubble gum in its
hair, and the
Hope of the future with
A frog in its pocket.
A Baby Girl Is ...
Author Unknown
one of the most beautiful miracles in life,
one of the greatest joys we can ever know,
and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine,
laughter and happiness in your world today.
Baby's Way
by Rabindranath Tagore (Hindu Poet)
If Baby only wanted to, he could fly up to heaven this moment.
It is not for nothing that he does not leave us.
He loves to rest his head on mother's bosom,
and cannot ever bare to lose sight of her.
Baby knows all manner of wise words,
though few on earth can understand their meaning.
It is not for nothing that he never wants to speak.
The one thing he wants is to learn mother's words from mother's lips.
That is why he looks so innocent.
Baby had a heap of gold and pearls,
yet he came like a beggar on to this earth.
It is not for nothing he came in such a disguise.
This dear little naked mendicant pretends to be utterly helpless,
so that he may beg for mother's wealth of love.
Baby was so free from every tie in the land of the tiny crescent moon.
It was not for nothing he gave up his freedom.
He knows that there is room for endless joy in mother's little corner of a heart,
and it is sweeter far than liberty to be caught and pressed in her dear arms.
Baby never knew how to cry.
He dwelt in the land of perfect bliss.
It is not for nothing he has chosen to shed tears.
Though with the smile of his dear face he draws mother's yearning heart to him,
yet his little cries over tiny troubles weave the double bond of pity and love.
Children learn what they live.
If a child lives with criticism, she learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, she learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilt.
If a child lives with tolerance, she learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, she learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, she learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance, he or she learns to find love in the world.
Regarding Parents and Parenting
A Parent's Love
Author Unknown
A parent's love is something that no one can explain.
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may,
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away...
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
It never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking,
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns
It glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems
It is far beyond defying, it defies all explanation,
It still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation.
A many splendor miracle. Man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence of Life's tender guiding hand.
From "The Prophet"
By Kahlil Gibran
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,
'Speak to us of Children.'
And he said:
'Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Mother's Heart
Author Unknown
I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.
Our life together has just begun
You’re part of me my little one.
As mother with child, each day I grew,
My mind was filled with thoughts of you.
I’d daydream of the things we’d share,
Like late-night bottles and Teddy bears.
Like first steps and skinned knees,
Like bedtime stories and ABC’s.
I thought of things you’d want to know,
Like how birds fly and flowers grow.
I thought of lessons I’d need to share,
Like standing tall and playing fair.
When I first saw your precious face,
I prayed your life be touched with grace.
I thanked the angels from above,
And promised you unending love.
Each night I lay you down to sleep,
I gently kiss your head and cheek.
I count your little fingers and toes;
I memorize your eyes and nose.
I linger at your nursery door,
Awed each day I love you more.
Through misty eyes, I dim the light,
I whisper, “I love you” every night.
I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.
As mother and child our journeys begin,
My heart’s yours forever little one.
An Adoption Poem
Author unknown
Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone
but very remarkably,
all my own.
And never forget,
for a single minute,
that you weren't born
under my heart,
but in it.
Kissed an Angel, an Adoption Poem
Author Unknown
Today I kissed an angel
I knew it from the start
The first time my angel smiled at me
I gave away my heart
Today I kissed an angel
This angel child of mine
Though not of my creation
My child by God’s design
Today I kissed an angel
My heart is dancing wild
A family, by a miracle
Blessed by this angel child.
The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
When we become parents, whether intentionally or by happenstance, our whole life is
immediately different, although it may take some time to realize just how much. Being a parent
compounds stress by orders of magnitude. It makes us vulnerable in ways we weren’t before. It
calls us to be responsible in ways we weren’t before. It challenges us as never before, and
takes out time and attention away from other things, including ourselves, as never before. It
creates chaos and disorder, feelings of inadequacy, occasions for arguments, struggles,
irritation, noise, seemingly never-ending obligations and errands, and plenty of opportunities
for getting stuck, angry, resentful, hurt, and for feeling overwhelmed, old, and unimportant.
And this can go on not only when the children are little, but even when they are full grown and
on their own. Having children is asking for trouble.
"So why do it? Maybe Pete Seeger said it best: ‘We do it for the high wages…kisses.’ Children
give us the opportunity to share in the vibrancy of life in ways we would not touch were they
not part of our lives… they share …vital nature with us and call it out of us as well, if
we can listen carefully to the calling.
The Greatest Gift Of All
Author Unknown (Can be read by parents, family or anyone.)
We give you the greatest gift of all,
a headstart that will last throughout your life
We shall do our best to teach you,
but it will be up to you to learn.
We shall try to guide you in the right directions,
but it will be up to you to make the right decisions.
We shall also encourage you to seek your own independence,
but it will be up to you to be responsible.
We shall tell you about 'drink and drugs',
but it will be up to you to say 'no'
We shall teach you about respect,
but you will choose whether to appreciate it's value.
We shall encourage you to try,
but you should want to succeed for yourself.
We shall teach you kindness,
but it will be up to you to be good natured.
We shall teach you to share,
but it will be up to you to be unselfish.
We shall model values for you.
but you have to develop your own morals.
We give you this knowledge as a gift with all our love.
I Want You To Be Happy
Author Unknown (Can be read by parents, family or anyone.)
I want you to be happy. I want you to fill your heart with feelings of wonder and to be full of courage and hope.
I want you to have the type of friendship that is a treasure - and the kind of love that is beautiful forever. I wish you contentment: the sweet, quiet, inner kind that comes around and never goes away.
I want you to have hopes and have them all come true. I want you to have a real understanding of how unique and rare you truly are. I want to remind you that the sun may disappear for a while, but it never forgets to shine. May the words you listen to, say the things you need to hear. And may a cheerful face lovingly look back at you when you happen to glance in your mirror.
I wish you the insight to see your inner and outer beauty. I wish you sweet dreams. I want you to have times when you feel like singing and dancing and laughing out loud. I want you to be able to make your good times better and your hard times easier to handle. I wish I could find a way to tell you - in untold ways - how important you are to me.
Of all the things I’ll be wishing for, wherever you are and whatever I may do, there will never be a day in my life when I won’t be wishing for the best… for you.
Regarding Grandparents, Godparents, Siblings, Family
God-Parent's Blessing for a New Baby
I bless this baby to be filled with my unending love. From the center of my heart, I will nurture, guide and teach this child and wish the best upon this new innocent soul.
What is a Family?
Author Unknown
A family is .....
The sweetest feelings
The warmest hugs
Trust and togetherness
Unconditional love
The stories of our lives written on the same page
The nicest memories anyone has ever made
Treasured photos
Thankful tears
Hearts overflowing with all the years
Being there for one another
Supporting and caring
Understanding, Helping, Sharing
Walking life's path together
And making the journey more beautiful because,
We are a family.....And a family is Love.
A Family Is
Author Unknown
A FAMILY IS..........
A Family is a Place
To cry
To laugh
To vent frustration
To ask for help
And tease
And yell
To be kissed and hugged
and smiled at.
A Family is People
Who care when you are sad
Who love you no matter what
Who share your triumphs
Who don't expect you to be perfect
Just grow with honesty
In your own direction.
A Family is a Circle
Where we learn to like ourselves
Where we learn to make good decisions
Where we learn to think before we do
Where we learn integrity and respect for others
Where we are special
Where we share ideas
Where we listen and are listened to
Where we learn the rules of life
To prepare ourselves for the world.
The world is a Place
where anything can happen.
If we grow in a Loving Family
we are ready for the world.
Grandparents' Blessing
May you live to see your world fulfilled. May your destiny be for worlds still to come. And may you trust in generations past and yet to be. May your heart be filled with intuition and your words be filled with insight. May songs of praise ever be upon your tongue and your vision be on a straight path before you. May your eyes shine with the light of holy words and your face reflect the brightness of the heavens. May your lips speak wisdom and your fulfillment be in righteousness even as you ever yearn to hear the words of the Divine.
Baby Sibling
Author Unknown
A while I have been waiting
to have you here.
I'm curious but hesitating
now that you're near.
You're the most delicate of creatures,
with rarely a tear.
I could study your features
for hours, sister dear.
My Little Brother
Kayla L. Carver
Many people say
they wouldn’t want a little sibling
But without you
life wouldn’t be worth living.
When I'm mad at the world
I look into your ocean blue eyes
and every thing seems alright.
When I touch your fair soft skin
I suddenly come alive.
That’s when I know
that out of all the little boys in the world
God sent you especially
to be my little brother.
Native American Blessings
Apache Blessing
May the sun bring you new energy by day,
May the moon softly restore you by night,
May the rain wash away your worries
And the breeze blow new strength into your being,
And all of the days of your life may you walk
Gently through the world and know its beauty.
Zuni Indian Prayer
Now this is the day.
Our child,
Into the daylight
You will go standing.
Preparing for your day.
Our child, it is your day,
This day.
May your road be fulfilled.
In your thoughts may we live,
May we be the ones whom your thoughts will embrace,
May you help us all to finish our road.
Iona Community Prayer
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
Omaha Native American Blessing
Sun, Moon, Stars, all you that move in the heavens, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the first hill!
Winds, Clouds, Rain, Mist, all you that move in the air, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the second hill!
Hills, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Trees, Grasses, all you of the earth, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the third hill!
Birds, great and small, that fly in the air,
Animals, great and small, that dwell in the forest, Insects that creep among the grasses and
burrow in the ground, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the fourth hill!
All you of the heavens, all you of the air, all you of the earth, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, then shall he/she travel beyond the four hills!
Jewish Readings and Blessings
A Jewish Blessing
In every birth, blessed is the wonder.
In every creation, blessed is the new beginning.
In every child, blessed is life.
In every hope, blessed is the potential.
In every transition, blessed is the beginning.
In every existence, blessed are the possibilities.
In every love, blessed are the tears.
In every life, blessed is the love.
There are three names by which a person is called:
One which her father and mother call her,
And one which people call her,
And one which she earns for herself.
The best one of these is the one that she earns or herself.
Every Person Born into This World
from a passage by Martin Buber (adaptation)
Every person born into this world represents something new, something that never existed
before, something original and unique. It is the duty of every person in Israel to know and
consider that he is unique in the world in his particular character, and that there has never
been someone like him before. For if there had been someone like him before, there would be
no need for him to be in the world. Every single person is a new thing in the world and is
called upon to fulfill his particularity in the world.
Ancient Jewish Blessing
May God bless you and protect you.
May God’s face shine toward you and show you favor.
May God look favorably upon you and grant you peace.
Christian Readings and Blessings
Reading from John 3:5-8
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 16:21
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
Matthew 18:1-3
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Isaiah 54:13
All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
A Gaelic Christening Blessing
Dearest Father in Heaven,
Bless this child and bless this day
Of new beginnings.
Smile upon this child
And surround this child, Lord,
With the soft mantle of your love.
Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,
And to live life in the ways of
Love, faith, hope and charity.
Irish Blessings
Irish Baby Blessing
May all the blessings of our Lord touch your life today.
May He send His little angels to protect you on your way.
Such a miraculous gift, sent from above.
Someone so precious to cherish and love.
May sunshine and moonbeams dance over your head.
As you quietly slumber in your bed.
May good luck be with you wherever you go.
And your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.
Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
Traditional Irish Blessing
May you always have walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
May the sun shine all day long,
Everything go right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
And may all the wishes you wish come true.
May luck be your friend
In whatever you do
And may trouble be always
A stranger to you.
An Irish Prayer
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
A Celtic Blessing of Light
‘May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart till it glows,
Like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come
and warm himself at it, as well as the friend.
And may the light shine out of the eyes of you,
like a candle set in the windows of a house,
Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the rain be on you – the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up,
And shed their sweetness on the air.
And may the blessing of the great rains be on you,
that they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there many a shining pool, and sometimes a star.
And may the blessing of the earth be on you – the great round earth;
May you ever have a kindly greeting for people you pass
as you are going along the roads.
And now may you be blessed, may you be blessed kindly.
Celtic Blessing
May the strength of the wind and the light of the sun,
The softness of the rain and the mystery of the moon
Reach you and fill you.
May beauty delight you and happiness uplift you,
May wonder fulfil you and love surround you.
May your step be steady and your arm be strong,
May your heart be peaceful and your word be true.
May you seek to learn, may you learn to live,
May you live to love, and may you love - always.
Alternative Readings and Blessings
This Bridge
by Shel Silverstein
This bridge will only take you halfway there
To those mysterious lands you long to see:
Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fairs
And moonlit woods where unicorns run free.
So come and stay awhile with me and share
The twisting trails and wondrous worlds I’ve known.
But this bridge will only take you halfway there –
The last few steps you’ll have to take alone.
Forever Young
by Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
From the Tao Te Ching
Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control:
this is the supreme virtue.
I Am Love
Author Unknown
Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings.
Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim.
Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame.
And though you cannot see me,
I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces.
I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes.
I am hidden in the lines of your mother's face.
I am your father's shield as he guards your home.
And yet… Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear.
Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always.
Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless.
And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children.
I am woven into the whispers of passion.
I am in the blessings of Grandmothers.
I embrace the cries of newborn babies.
And yet… Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed.
Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them.
Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul.
And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind.
I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night.
I am the hug of a child.
I am love.
Ithaka
(translation/adaptation by Sarah Ban Breathnach)
Pray that your journey be long,
full of many summer mornings
when with much pleasure and much joy
you anchor in harbors never seen before;
Browse through Phoenician markets,
to purchase exquisite treasures-
mother-of-pearl and coral, ebony and amber
and sensual perfumes of all kinds-
as much as you desire.
Visit many Egyptian cities, content
to sit at the feet of sages, eager
and open to receive learning.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is your destiny.
But do not hurry the journey at all; be patient.
Better that it lasts for many years-
longer than you can even imagine.
So that finally, when you reach this
sacred isle, you will be wise,
abundantly fulfilled by all you have gained along the way;
no longer expecting Ithaka to make you wealthy,
no longer needing Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka has given you the journey,
the chance to discover who you have always been.
Without Ithaka as your inspiration, you
never would have set out in search of Wholeness.
And should you find her poor, Ithaka did not deceive you.
Authentic as you have become, full of wisdom,
beauty and grace, enriched and enlightened by all you have experienced
You will finally understand what all of life's Ithakas truly mean.
Closing Words/Benediction
Officiant to Parents: _____ and _____, I say on behalf of all of us, go in peace and build a strong and beautiful family life. Your wishes are rooted in truth, for we have prayed with you and joined our hearts with yours. Your prayers are our prayers, that you might have a home that is full of love and righteousness for you and your child. May he grow up to reflect the best in both of you, and extend unto the world he touches, the love he receives from his mother and father. Do not fear for God will guide you always. Do not despair, for he is ever there. The spirit of God is with you always, to guide you both and bless your child.
There Is A Song
by Spike Milligan
There is a song in man
There is a song in woman
And that is the child's song.
When that song comes
There will be no words.
Do not ask where they are.
Just listen to the song.
Listen to it-
Learn it-
It is the greatest song of all
Untitled
Author Unknown
What shall we call you,
one who comes across a vast distance
bearing secrets of the future,
your father’s hidden wishing,
and the remembrance of beauty that hung diffusely in the air
all those long years without you?
We call you the awaited one,
the dreamt of one, the sung one,
for we sing to you now a symphony of welcomes,
and wish for your smooth passage to the world.
As if you were sweet basil,
as if you were mountain rosemary,
as if you were the golden sweetness of the apple
and the pear at harvest time.
You sweeten your mother’s innermost heart
and ripen her for every greater mystery-
For she has kissed the hem of the most Beloved
in calling you forth,
sheltering a wild faith in life.
Like a rose folded inward, hiding great fragrance,
like a host watching over the sheep
of the most cherished guest,
You were so tenderly awaited.
Little one, we sing to you now,
calling you joy,
calling you promise fulfilled,
calling you sheer vastness and little drop of honey.
You joined us here.
May your earthly journey be cloaked
with songs and praises evermore.
Your mother and father’s vast hearts,
deepening as they awaited you;
Every tear they've ever shed for joy gathering and intensifying-
For you, little drop of honey,
coming across great distances
just to see their faces at last,
just to gaze upon the face of Love at last.
A Baby Is A Miracle
Author unknown
This little tiny baby,
Was sent from God above,
To fill our hearts with happiness,
And touch our lives with love,
He must have known,
We’d give our all,
And always do our best.
To give our precious baby love,
And be grateful and so blessed.
Untitled
Excerpts from Francis Thompson and William Blake
Know you what it is to be a child? ... It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of
baptism; it is to believe in love, to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief; it is to be so little
that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear; it is to turn pumpkins into coaches, and mice
into horses, lowness into loftiness, and nothing into everything, - for each child has a fairy god-
mother in his/her own soul; it is to live in a nutshell and count yourself the king/queen of
infinite space; it is:
To see the World in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Untitled (sometimes called "My Dear Child")
Author Unknown
You are the poem
I dreamed of writing,
The masterpiece
I longed to paint.
You are the shining star
I reached for in my ever-hopeful quest
For life fulfilled...
You are my child.
Now with all things
I am blessed.
Untitled
Author Unknown
She’s a little bit of sunshine
She’s a smile to light our days
She will steal our hearts and
Keep them with her warm endearing ways
She’s our precious little daughter
With a sweetness from above
Who will fill our years with laughter
And our lives with lots of love.
Untitled
Author unknown
Hello there little fellow!
The good news is going ’round
That you’ve made a “happy Landing”
And arrived all safe and sound
Well this just comes to tell you
That you’re lucky as can be
To become the newest member
Of so nice a family!
These Are The Years
Author Unknown
These are the years, the gentle years
the soft and sentimental years
when wee little fingers reach and touch
and little eyes gaze with wonder and trust,
when you love so tenderly and so much
these are the gentle years.
These are the years, the rainbow years
the quiet walk on tiptoe years,
the years of laughter and smiles and sighs
when both of you watch with misty eyes
the tiny bed where a cherub lies,
these are the rainbow years.
These are the years, the tender years,
the blissful, sweet-surrender years
when your little treasure from above
is the soul and purpose and center of
your plans and dreams and dearest love,
these are the tender years.
A Boy Is . . .
Author Unknown
Trust with dirt on its face,
Beauty with a cut on its finger.
Wisdom with bubble gum in its
hair, and the
Hope of the future with
A frog in its pocket.
A Baby Girl Is ...
Author Unknown
one of the most beautiful miracles in life,
one of the greatest joys we can ever know,
and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine,
laughter and happiness in your world today.
Baby's Way
by Rabindranath Tagore (Hindu Poet)
If Baby only wanted to, he could fly up to heaven this moment.
It is not for nothing that he does not leave us.
He loves to rest his head on mother's bosom,
and cannot ever bare to lose sight of her.
Baby knows all manner of wise words,
though few on earth can understand their meaning.
It is not for nothing that he never wants to speak.
The one thing he wants is to learn mother's words from mother's lips.
That is why he looks so innocent.
Baby had a heap of gold and pearls,
yet he came like a beggar on to this earth.
It is not for nothing he came in such a disguise.
This dear little naked mendicant pretends to be utterly helpless,
so that he may beg for mother's wealth of love.
Baby was so free from every tie in the land of the tiny crescent moon.
It was not for nothing he gave up his freedom.
He knows that there is room for endless joy in mother's little corner of a heart,
and it is sweeter far than liberty to be caught and pressed in her dear arms.
Baby never knew how to cry.
He dwelt in the land of perfect bliss.
It is not for nothing he has chosen to shed tears.
Though with the smile of his dear face he draws mother's yearning heart to him,
yet his little cries over tiny troubles weave the double bond of pity and love.
Children learn what they live.
If a child lives with criticism, she learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, she learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilt.
If a child lives with tolerance, she learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, she learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, she learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance, he or she learns to find love in the world.
Regarding Parents and Parenting
A Parent's Love
Author Unknown
A parent's love is something that no one can explain.
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may,
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away...
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
It never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking,
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns
It glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems
It is far beyond defying, it defies all explanation,
It still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation.
A many splendor miracle. Man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence of Life's tender guiding hand.
From "The Prophet"
By Kahlil Gibran
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,
'Speak to us of Children.'
And he said:
'Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Mother's Heart
Author Unknown
I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.
Our life together has just begun
You’re part of me my little one.
As mother with child, each day I grew,
My mind was filled with thoughts of you.
I’d daydream of the things we’d share,
Like late-night bottles and Teddy bears.
Like first steps and skinned knees,
Like bedtime stories and ABC’s.
I thought of things you’d want to know,
Like how birds fly and flowers grow.
I thought of lessons I’d need to share,
Like standing tall and playing fair.
When I first saw your precious face,
I prayed your life be touched with grace.
I thanked the angels from above,
And promised you unending love.
Each night I lay you down to sleep,
I gently kiss your head and cheek.
I count your little fingers and toes;
I memorize your eyes and nose.
I linger at your nursery door,
Awed each day I love you more.
Through misty eyes, I dim the light,
I whisper, “I love you” every night.
I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.
As mother and child our journeys begin,
My heart’s yours forever little one.
An Adoption Poem
Author unknown
Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone
but very remarkably,
all my own.
And never forget,
for a single minute,
that you weren't born
under my heart,
but in it.
Kissed an Angel, an Adoption Poem
Author Unknown
Today I kissed an angel
I knew it from the start
The first time my angel smiled at me
I gave away my heart
Today I kissed an angel
This angel child of mine
Though not of my creation
My child by God’s design
Today I kissed an angel
My heart is dancing wild
A family, by a miracle
Blessed by this angel child.
The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
When we become parents, whether intentionally or by happenstance, our whole life is
immediately different, although it may take some time to realize just how much. Being a parent
compounds stress by orders of magnitude. It makes us vulnerable in ways we weren’t before. It
calls us to be responsible in ways we weren’t before. It challenges us as never before, and
takes out time and attention away from other things, including ourselves, as never before. It
creates chaos and disorder, feelings of inadequacy, occasions for arguments, struggles,
irritation, noise, seemingly never-ending obligations and errands, and plenty of opportunities
for getting stuck, angry, resentful, hurt, and for feeling overwhelmed, old, and unimportant.
And this can go on not only when the children are little, but even when they are full grown and
on their own. Having children is asking for trouble.
"So why do it? Maybe Pete Seeger said it best: ‘We do it for the high wages…kisses.’ Children
give us the opportunity to share in the vibrancy of life in ways we would not touch were they
not part of our lives… they share …vital nature with us and call it out of us as well, if
we can listen carefully to the calling.
The Greatest Gift Of All
Author Unknown (Can be read by parents, family or anyone.)
We give you the greatest gift of all,
a headstart that will last throughout your life
We shall do our best to teach you,
but it will be up to you to learn.
We shall try to guide you in the right directions,
but it will be up to you to make the right decisions.
We shall also encourage you to seek your own independence,
but it will be up to you to be responsible.
We shall tell you about 'drink and drugs',
but it will be up to you to say 'no'
We shall teach you about respect,
but you will choose whether to appreciate it's value.
We shall encourage you to try,
but you should want to succeed for yourself.
We shall teach you kindness,
but it will be up to you to be good natured.
We shall teach you to share,
but it will be up to you to be unselfish.
We shall model values for you.
but you have to develop your own morals.
We give you this knowledge as a gift with all our love.
I Want You To Be Happy
Author Unknown (Can be read by parents, family or anyone.)
I want you to be happy. I want you to fill your heart with feelings of wonder and to be full of courage and hope.
I want you to have the type of friendship that is a treasure - and the kind of love that is beautiful forever. I wish you contentment: the sweet, quiet, inner kind that comes around and never goes away.
I want you to have hopes and have them all come true. I want you to have a real understanding of how unique and rare you truly are. I want to remind you that the sun may disappear for a while, but it never forgets to shine. May the words you listen to, say the things you need to hear. And may a cheerful face lovingly look back at you when you happen to glance in your mirror.
I wish you the insight to see your inner and outer beauty. I wish you sweet dreams. I want you to have times when you feel like singing and dancing and laughing out loud. I want you to be able to make your good times better and your hard times easier to handle. I wish I could find a way to tell you - in untold ways - how important you are to me.
Of all the things I’ll be wishing for, wherever you are and whatever I may do, there will never be a day in my life when I won’t be wishing for the best… for you.
Regarding Grandparents, Godparents, Siblings, Family
God-Parent's Blessing for a New Baby
I bless this baby to be filled with my unending love. From the center of my heart, I will nurture, guide and teach this child and wish the best upon this new innocent soul.
What is a Family?
Author Unknown
A family is .....
The sweetest feelings
The warmest hugs
Trust and togetherness
Unconditional love
The stories of our lives written on the same page
The nicest memories anyone has ever made
Treasured photos
Thankful tears
Hearts overflowing with all the years
Being there for one another
Supporting and caring
Understanding, Helping, Sharing
Walking life's path together
And making the journey more beautiful because,
We are a family.....And a family is Love.
A Family Is
Author Unknown
A FAMILY IS..........
A Family is a Place
To cry
To laugh
To vent frustration
To ask for help
And tease
And yell
To be kissed and hugged
and smiled at.
A Family is People
Who care when you are sad
Who love you no matter what
Who share your triumphs
Who don't expect you to be perfect
Just grow with honesty
In your own direction.
A Family is a Circle
Where we learn to like ourselves
Where we learn to make good decisions
Where we learn to think before we do
Where we learn integrity and respect for others
Where we are special
Where we share ideas
Where we listen and are listened to
Where we learn the rules of life
To prepare ourselves for the world.
The world is a Place
where anything can happen.
If we grow in a Loving Family
we are ready for the world.
Grandparents' Blessing
May you live to see your world fulfilled. May your destiny be for worlds still to come. And may you trust in generations past and yet to be. May your heart be filled with intuition and your words be filled with insight. May songs of praise ever be upon your tongue and your vision be on a straight path before you. May your eyes shine with the light of holy words and your face reflect the brightness of the heavens. May your lips speak wisdom and your fulfillment be in righteousness even as you ever yearn to hear the words of the Divine.
Baby Sibling
Author Unknown
A while I have been waiting
to have you here.
I'm curious but hesitating
now that you're near.
You're the most delicate of creatures,
with rarely a tear.
I could study your features
for hours, sister dear.
My Little Brother
Kayla L. Carver
Many people say
they wouldn’t want a little sibling
But without you
life wouldn’t be worth living.
When I'm mad at the world
I look into your ocean blue eyes
and every thing seems alright.
When I touch your fair soft skin
I suddenly come alive.
That’s when I know
that out of all the little boys in the world
God sent you especially
to be my little brother.
Native American Blessings
Apache Blessing
May the sun bring you new energy by day,
May the moon softly restore you by night,
May the rain wash away your worries
And the breeze blow new strength into your being,
And all of the days of your life may you walk
Gently through the world and know its beauty.
Zuni Indian Prayer
Now this is the day.
Our child,
Into the daylight
You will go standing.
Preparing for your day.
Our child, it is your day,
This day.
May your road be fulfilled.
In your thoughts may we live,
May we be the ones whom your thoughts will embrace,
May you help us all to finish our road.
Iona Community Prayer
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
Omaha Native American Blessing
Sun, Moon, Stars, all you that move in the heavens, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the first hill!
Winds, Clouds, Rain, Mist, all you that move in the air, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the second hill!
Hills, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Trees, Grasses, all you of the earth, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the third hill!
Birds, great and small, that fly in the air,
Animals, great and small, that dwell in the forest, Insects that creep among the grasses and
burrow in the ground, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, that he/she may reach the brow of the fourth hill!
All you of the heavens, all you of the air, all you of the earth, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his/her path smooth, then shall he/she travel beyond the four hills!
Jewish Readings and Blessings
A Jewish Blessing
In every birth, blessed is the wonder.
In every creation, blessed is the new beginning.
In every child, blessed is life.
In every hope, blessed is the potential.
In every transition, blessed is the beginning.
In every existence, blessed are the possibilities.
In every love, blessed are the tears.
In every life, blessed is the love.
There are three names by which a person is called:
One which her father and mother call her,
And one which people call her,
And one which she earns for herself.
The best one of these is the one that she earns or herself.
Every Person Born into This World
from a passage by Martin Buber (adaptation)
Every person born into this world represents something new, something that never existed
before, something original and unique. It is the duty of every person in Israel to know and
consider that he is unique in the world in his particular character, and that there has never
been someone like him before. For if there had been someone like him before, there would be
no need for him to be in the world. Every single person is a new thing in the world and is
called upon to fulfill his particularity in the world.
Ancient Jewish Blessing
May God bless you and protect you.
May God’s face shine toward you and show you favor.
May God look favorably upon you and grant you peace.
Christian Readings and Blessings
Reading from John 3:5-8
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 16:21
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
Matthew 18:1-3
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Isaiah 54:13
All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
A Gaelic Christening Blessing
Dearest Father in Heaven,
Bless this child and bless this day
Of new beginnings.
Smile upon this child
And surround this child, Lord,
With the soft mantle of your love.
Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,
And to live life in the ways of
Love, faith, hope and charity.
Irish Blessings
Irish Baby Blessing
May all the blessings of our Lord touch your life today.
May He send His little angels to protect you on your way.
Such a miraculous gift, sent from above.
Someone so precious to cherish and love.
May sunshine and moonbeams dance over your head.
As you quietly slumber in your bed.
May good luck be with you wherever you go.
And your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.
Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
Traditional Irish Blessing
May you always have walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
May the sun shine all day long,
Everything go right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
And may all the wishes you wish come true.
May luck be your friend
In whatever you do
And may trouble be always
A stranger to you.
An Irish Prayer
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
A Celtic Blessing of Light
‘May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart till it glows,
Like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come
and warm himself at it, as well as the friend.
And may the light shine out of the eyes of you,
like a candle set in the windows of a house,
Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the rain be on you – the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up,
And shed their sweetness on the air.
And may the blessing of the great rains be on you,
that they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there many a shining pool, and sometimes a star.
And may the blessing of the earth be on you – the great round earth;
May you ever have a kindly greeting for people you pass
as you are going along the roads.
And now may you be blessed, may you be blessed kindly.
Celtic Blessing
May the strength of the wind and the light of the sun,
The softness of the rain and the mystery of the moon
Reach you and fill you.
May beauty delight you and happiness uplift you,
May wonder fulfil you and love surround you.
May your step be steady and your arm be strong,
May your heart be peaceful and your word be true.
May you seek to learn, may you learn to live,
May you live to love, and may you love - always.
Alternative Readings and Blessings
This Bridge
by Shel Silverstein
This bridge will only take you halfway there
To those mysterious lands you long to see:
Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fairs
And moonlit woods where unicorns run free.
So come and stay awhile with me and share
The twisting trails and wondrous worlds I’ve known.
But this bridge will only take you halfway there –
The last few steps you’ll have to take alone.
Forever Young
by Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
From the Tao Te Ching
Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control:
this is the supreme virtue.
I Am Love
Author Unknown
Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings.
Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim.
Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame.
And though you cannot see me,
I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces.
I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes.
I am hidden in the lines of your mother's face.
I am your father's shield as he guards your home.
And yet… Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear.
Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always.
Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless.
And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children.
I am woven into the whispers of passion.
I am in the blessings of Grandmothers.
I embrace the cries of newborn babies.
And yet… Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed.
Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them.
Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul.
And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind.
I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night.
I am the hug of a child.
I am love.
Ithaka
(translation/adaptation by Sarah Ban Breathnach)
Pray that your journey be long,
full of many summer mornings
when with much pleasure and much joy
you anchor in harbors never seen before;
Browse through Phoenician markets,
to purchase exquisite treasures-
mother-of-pearl and coral, ebony and amber
and sensual perfumes of all kinds-
as much as you desire.
Visit many Egyptian cities, content
to sit at the feet of sages, eager
and open to receive learning.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is your destiny.
But do not hurry the journey at all; be patient.
Better that it lasts for many years-
longer than you can even imagine.
So that finally, when you reach this
sacred isle, you will be wise,
abundantly fulfilled by all you have gained along the way;
no longer expecting Ithaka to make you wealthy,
no longer needing Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka has given you the journey,
the chance to discover who you have always been.
Without Ithaka as your inspiration, you
never would have set out in search of Wholeness.
And should you find her poor, Ithaka did not deceive you.
Authentic as you have become, full of wisdom,
beauty and grace, enriched and enlightened by all you have experienced
You will finally understand what all of life's Ithakas truly mean.
Closing Words/Benediction
Officiant to Parents: _____ and _____, I say on behalf of all of us, go in peace and build a strong and beautiful family life. Your wishes are rooted in truth, for we have prayed with you and joined our hearts with yours. Your prayers are our prayers, that you might have a home that is full of love and righteousness for you and your child. May he grow up to reflect the best in both of you, and extend unto the world he touches, the love he receives from his mother and father. Do not fear for God will guide you always. Do not despair, for he is ever there. The spirit of God is with you always, to guide you both and bless your child.