Celebrating a hand-made life (6/31)

Our friends’ daughter was Christened on Sunday.  It was a beautiful, heartfelt celebration.  A relaxed, casual sort of ceremony with about twenty children gathered around the font to watch the baby anointed with holy water.  And the most beautiful winter sunlight shone onto them all as this happened and brought a special warmth to the moment.  It was really quite moving.

Our two had never experienced a Christening or such a large party afterwards.  Little Miss Happy was delighted to hear the Vicar mention a name familiar with Christmas, “He said Jesus, Mummy!  He’s talking about Jesus!”.  She was also bemused by a lot of adults all singing together and wondered when we’d all go to the party to have cake?  Meanwhile, the little Master Happy spent most of the time licking Daddy’s face in the puppy dog way that he likes to “taste” his family :-)

It is so very different to attend a Christening when you have children of your own.  I’ve enjoyed them in the past, yes, but I’ve never before felt so involved, so connected, as I did this time … as a Mummy.  It made me feel quite teary eyed.  After all these adult years, I was finally able to belong in this gathering of families on a deeper level than it’s possible to be part of such a gathering without being a parent … if that makes sense.  I suppose, what I’m trying to say is that now I “get it” , in a way that I didn’t / couldn’t in the past.

Then there’s the feeling of being part of something ancient, time honoured and sacred.  This handsewn Christening gown is over a century old, having been used for every child in their family through four generations.  And through the ceremony, through the party, through the welcoming of this new baby we all became part of the river of life that runs way back through one hundred years and much further back to the beginnings of civilisation.

Welcoming, belonging, family, rivers, holy waters, hands to hold small babies, hands to pour holy waters, and, as you’ll see tomorrow hands to hold when we’re not quite sure … it’s all there isn’t it?  The one-ness of life.  The unity of this hand-made life.   Precious.