A stay-at-home-dad offers thoughts on the joys and sorrows, and everything in between, of fatherhood.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Welcome to the World

One smile was all it took. To be christened today, baby had to rise three hours earlier than usual, deal with a strange environment with strange people, contend with pressing faces and hands, hear all manner of shocking new sounds, at unpredictable intervals; she had to be wet on the forehead three times, and have the sign of the cross put on her with sacred oil; finally, she was made to face the congregation for the presentation of her baptismal candle and a last blessing. This was the exact moment she chose to smile as though she understood everything – and liked it – and, of course, she did. She wore the white, crocheted garments worn by her mother to her baptism, 32 years ago. A white cap with silk ties made it all retro-hip and fabulous and yet simple and beautiful.

It was a hard and beautiful day, not only for our family, I suspect. Competing fears and interests and memories and blood-sugar levels aren’t always the ingredients of serenity one might want for such a ceremony. But for this family, and maybe even for the entire church, one smile was all it took. How we love her.

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