Jonathan was dedicated today at 12 Stone Church (Hamilton Mill). It was a beautiful, sunny day and it made it all the more special to have family there as witnesses of his dedication.
As parents, we were asked to write a short letter to Jonathan about the person we desire for him to become. What a tall order! How do you write about who a person will be in 18 years? That afternoon, I sat at the kitchen table while Karen prepared food for our families to come over after the dedication. We began to talk about what our main desires for him would be. As I wrote, we considered our experiences growing up and the lessons we learned. As parents, we hope that we can always be his number one fan and lead him down the right path to achieve his full potential. We read the letter that evening at the dedication service to our family members in attendance.
[View the PDF file of the letter]
At the dedication, we were asked to have someone we admire pray over Jonathan. We chose my Dad, because Jonathan carries the family name but also because I have a great respect for my father. I owe much of my success to the way he modeled personal integrity, devotion to the Lord, love for his family, and financial responsibility (or should I say at times frugality). I have always wanted to please him and show him that I can be a success. He has always been there for me and I only hope that I can model such honed attributes for my children.
Lastly, the campus pastor prayed for Jonathan and read the meaning of his name to the people.
We were recently asked what a baby dedication is and so I’d like to end this blog entry by sharing an article that provides an excellent description of a baby dedication.
A Baby Dedication is a ceremony in which believing parents, and sometimes entire families, make a commitment before the Lord to submit a child to God’s will and to raise that child according to God’s Word and God’s ways.
Responsibilities Involved in Baby Dedication
Christian parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God. Parents who make this vow of commitment are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God, and not according to their own ways. Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in God’s Word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God’s ways, and praying earnestly for the child.An Example of Baby Dedication in Scripture
And she (Hannah) made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:11 (NIV)When God answered Hannah’s prayer by giving her a son, she remembered her vow:
“As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. 1 Samuel 1:26-28 (NIV)
From http://christianity.about.com/od/babydedication/f/babydedication.htm
Below are pictures and video of the dedication. Enjoy!
Video
3:24 minute video.
http://youtu.be/kSRzOAdYzfQ
Photo Gallery
Click on the images below to enlarge.
