I wrote the following piece for a new woman in my life, my niece and goddaughter, Nadia, for her baptism. Babies have always been centering spiritually for me, a strong expression of the divinity that is in us all. Enjoy!
Nadia Lucille brings out the best kind of our love, the kind of love that is the most like God’s love. Without knowing it, Nadia is here today to help us unlearn what adult life has taught us. She is here to remind us what the faith of a child looks like, to invite us to belief in the awesome, nurturing, unconditional love of God.
There was nothing and then there was something, and that something was very good. And God loved that very good something because God created it, and promised to love Nadia, walk with Nadia, learn from Nadia regardless of her recognition or approval.
We loved her actively and abundantly even before she was born. We began to build a relationship with her while Leslie was still bearing Nadia in her body.
And so it is with God.
We have gathered here today as a public witness that we will never abandon Nadia.
And so it is with God.
Here is the group of people committing to love her, to weep when she weeps and laugh when she laughs all the days of our lives. We are committed to walk with her, teach her and learn from her. We commit to this unconditional love and affection with no cognitive recognition or approval from her.
And so it is with God.
We look into Nadia’s eyes and see God so clearly, there are no masks, no hurt yet to be barriers. She believes the Scripture, “you only need to be still and God will fight for you.” Nadia reminds us that we have inherent worth in our sleeping, eating and breathing.
And so it is with God. God loves us while we are sleeping, loves us when we do not show love back for days, years.
How amazing, to have the faith of a child.
How amazing to have the abundant love of God.
