Last month (better late than never to blog about, right?) we held a celebration and baby dedication service here at our house for Brooks. When my bestie Linde in Texas shared of how they recently did a similar thing at their home, I realized there was no reason we couldn't do the same. Chinese culture celebrates the 100th day of a babies life, but even within local fellowships baby dedications aren't practiced. So, we knew we were starting for scratch in helping our friends understand and participate in this kind of event, but we're used to being the weird foreigners by now. : ) We invited friends in our city, our teammates from out of town, and were thrilled when some of our local besties were able to make it from out of town as well. I made invitations and delivered to them to friends, but what we didn't quite expect was the interest our little shin dig would gather. As the day approached several friends called asking if they could bring friends (who we'd never met). Who were we to turn away people from an event focused on testifying to God's goodness? So all in all our little event ended up with 30+! I of course did my best to max out my Pinterest potential with hanging tissue pom poms, cookies iced (in the thematic blue and white scheme of course) with B's and crosses, fruit kabobs, and white flowers wrapped in baby blue ribbons. Although I act like it's stressful and exhausting (because let's be honest, it is), I truly love stuff like this, and making my home look as special as the event is.
In keeping with our stealing of ideas (thanks Linde ; ), we put together a slideshow of Brooks' first six months to start our time together. I had watched it no less than 30 times, and still got misty eyed at seeing how this gift or ours has grown from that first flicker on the ultrasound screen. We sang together songs that are meaningful to us; "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman because it was on my heart and mind throughout my pregnancy, "How Great is Our God" because I would sing it to Brooks in the wee hours of them morning hoping to coax him to sleep, and "How Great Thou Art" largely because that was one of few we had in Chinese. Because this is the kind of event that if it weren't for oceans, visas and annoyingly expensive airplane tickets our friends and family from the other side of the world would have been at with bells on, we asked our parents and a few close friends to record prayers for Brooks to be played at the dedication. It meant so much to see people their faces and to hear their words of blessing for Brooks' life, and to know that despite distance they are very much a part of his life and ours. W
e then shared five family values that we pray for our son, and asked that as we raise him those present would keep us accountable to these commitments. We did this by reading (and translating for clarity's sake) a parent and community covenant in which we confessed that our child and our family first belongs to God, that in response to this gift we will raise him according to God's truth, and will depend on the community Christ has given us. My heart was full as we closed in prayer, and as I looked around the very full room I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude at all Christ has done for us. To me, that was the ultimate reason in having this baby dedication, was to publicly profess God's goodness and praise him for the blessing of our son. We felt so loved by all those who came and so enthusiastically participated, and will always remember this special day.
In keeping with our stealing of ideas (thanks Linde ; ), we put together a slideshow of Brooks' first six months to start our time together. I had watched it no less than 30 times, and still got misty eyed at seeing how this gift or ours has grown from that first flicker on the ultrasound screen. We sang together songs that are meaningful to us; "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman because it was on my heart and mind throughout my pregnancy, "How Great is Our God" because I would sing it to Brooks in the wee hours of them morning hoping to coax him to sleep, and "How Great Thou Art" largely because that was one of few we had in Chinese. Because this is the kind of event that if it weren't for oceans, visas and annoyingly expensive airplane tickets our friends and family from the other side of the world would have been at with bells on, we asked our parents and a few close friends to record prayers for Brooks to be played at the dedication. It meant so much to see people their faces and to hear their words of blessing for Brooks' life, and to know that despite distance they are very much a part of his life and ours. W
e then shared five family values that we pray for our son, and asked that as we raise him those present would keep us accountable to these commitments. We did this by reading (and translating for clarity's sake) a parent and community covenant in which we confessed that our child and our family first belongs to God, that in response to this gift we will raise him according to God's truth, and will depend on the community Christ has given us. My heart was full as we closed in prayer, and as I looked around the very full room I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude at all Christ has done for us. To me, that was the ultimate reason in having this baby dedication, was to publicly profess God's goodness and praise him for the blessing of our son. We felt so loved by all those who came and so enthusiastically participated, and will always remember this special day.
oh how perfectly lovely! Sounds like an AWESOME time celebrating such a precious life! What a testimony to glorifying our Lord and Savior. I would have given anything to be there! Thanks so much for the pictures and for sharing! I appreciate it so much!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Praying for you. -Kristy Y.
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