To our sweet Eliza Kate,
From the day you came into our world three weeks ahead of schedule with a head of spiked hair, we have been continually blessed by the lessons you have taught us. Lessons of unconditional love and lessons of patience. Lessons in flexibility. Lessons in parenting, raising two children, and lessons in grace. Thank you.
And God has equipped us as well for all the things that we as parents must teach you...your life lessons. But as parents of a four year old, we are keenly aware that no matter how hard we try, we are not equipped to do it alone. You see, it takes a village.
God has blessed us with an amazing church family and today we are dedicating you not only into Jesus' arms, but into the arms of all these people who will help us raise you in His likeness. To your first Sunday School teacher who will gently coax you into their classroom with juice and cookies and teach you the words to Jesus Loves Me. To your very young peers like Isis, Mona, Kingston, Kyana, and Baby Rodriguez who will probably be some of your best teachers in kindness, understanding, sympathy, and forgiveness. To your youth sponsors, small group members, and other adult mentors because the truth is, one day, we will probably be the last people you want to talk to.
Eliza, we love you and thank God for the blessing you are to us and your big sister...to our family. We are grateful for the things you have taught us and the things we love teaching you. But God has another family for you as well. This family. This village. So grab a hand.
From the day you came into our world three weeks ahead of schedule with a head of spiked hair, we have been continually blessed by the lessons you have taught us. Lessons of unconditional love and lessons of patience. Lessons in flexibility. Lessons in parenting, raising two children, and lessons in grace. Thank you.
And God has equipped us as well for all the things that we as parents must teach you...your life lessons. But as parents of a four year old, we are keenly aware that no matter how hard we try, we are not equipped to do it alone. You see, it takes a village.
God has blessed us with an amazing church family and today we are dedicating you not only into Jesus' arms, but into the arms of all these people who will help us raise you in His likeness. To your first Sunday School teacher who will gently coax you into their classroom with juice and cookies and teach you the words to Jesus Loves Me. To your very young peers like Isis, Mona, Kingston, Kyana, and Baby Rodriguez who will probably be some of your best teachers in kindness, understanding, sympathy, and forgiveness. To your youth sponsors, small group members, and other adult mentors because the truth is, one day, we will probably be the last people you want to talk to.
Eliza, we love you and thank God for the blessing you are to us and your big sister...to our family. We are grateful for the things you have taught us and the things we love teaching you. But God has another family for you as well. This family. This village. So grab a hand.
2 comments:
Oh my gosh, she is the cutest thing. I wish so bad we could've made it to her dedication. Glad Grammy and Pop Pop made it. Tell her the village of Indiana loves her dearly and wants her to come visit us so we can teach her fun things that only cousins and aunts and uncles can. Give her a shower of kisses for our blessing to her. And do not let the Village People touch her.
Beautiful.
Post a Comment