To my goddaughters, the day after their baptism

In order to maintain privacy for these children on my public blog, I will refer to them by their first initials.

A&L, their parents and godparents laying their hands for a blessing from the pastor by the baptismal font

I know that you already know how much you are loved by your whole family, including me, your Auntie Abs. What I hope you’re starting to understand is that you are beloved by God. Sometimes I think little ones understand what that means better than the grown ups. You both are special in your own unique ways, and as you grow up, you will learn how to use your gifts and the things that you love to do to help others. A, I know you love to help Mommy in the kitchen when you’re baking bread or cookies.  I don’t think it’s an accident that you gravitate toward food as a way to bring people together–I think God instilled that in you. L, you’re a jokester like Daddy, and I think you understand how to make people laugh better than I do. I hope you don’t lose that spark in you since your laughter has definitely been a light in my life. Those are examples of how God loves you both and is building you to be who you are.


What you won’t understand until you’re older is that I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to be an important part of your faith formation. Even before either of you were born. Your Daddy and I went to a church growing up that helped us connect to our faith and our community from an early age. Just like A wants to help mommy in the kitchen, or L wants to make people laugh, I wanted to be part of the life and rhythm of the Church.


I’ve been talking to kids like you about Jesus for a long time. I have taught Sunday school, led vacation bible school, served on summer staff for a Bible camp, and chaperoned a confirmation trip. Each child/teen was uniquely themselves because God made them that way. They were learning what it means to love God, to love others, and to love themselves. With most of these kids, they had their own families and churches to return home to where I wouldn’t be able to help them beyond my time I spent with them, so I would do my best to help them learn things they can take home and explore for themselves: how to help others, how to practice forgiveness, and how to see their own gifts. Sometimes it felt easy for them to have fun and feel like they belonged in the Church. Sometimes, it was hard. And you two will have moments of both. I hope to be a person that you two will be able to come to in the good time as well as the hard times, to help you know that you are so loved, by God and by me. With you two, I have the privilege to be part of your life as a loving family member AND your godparent alongside your Auntie Lissa and Auntie Megan. I also hope that you two will be able to be there for each other as you grow up.


I’m excited to see where God’s blessings show up in your lives. And know that there is nothing that can separate you from God’s love. Nor from mine.


In Christ,

Your Godparent Auntie Abs


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