Children are a gift...

Today was a big day for us as parents. We had Josie dedicated at church. To some a baby dedication may simply be a ritual or even not necessary but to us it is very important. From the day we found out we were expecting we dedicated Josie back to the Lord but today was a public acknowledgement of that dedication to the Lord as well as to our church and family so that they can help hold us accountable. I found this perfect explanation of why a child should be dedicated...

"Scripture says that children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that 'Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.' As believers we are called to recognize that children belong first and foremost to God. God in his goodness gives children as gifts to parents. We not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift. Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.

We are told in 1 Samuel 1 that Hannah presented her son Samuel to the Lord. In Luke 2:22 we read that Mary and Joseph brought their baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem in order to present him before the Lord. In the same way, parents should bring their children presenting first themselves and then their children before the Lord."

A friend of ours gave us a CD when Riley was born that is filled with beautiful songs about daughters. One of my favorites has these lyrics...

"Lord I dedicate, I consecrate my daughter to you. For your purpose Lord, for your perfect plan, for all things you'll have her do. Lord I give back to you this child you've given me for she belongs to you. She's a loan of love, a gift from above, and I give her back to you."

As we did three years ago with our first child Riley, we dedicate Josie to the Lord and vow to train her up in His ways so that she will not depart from them.