Raising Children "Wet"

Four times a year we baptize children at Saint Margaret's. When we do this, the parents and godparents of these children will be called to a sacred task. The ministry of Christian parenting is the holy work of raising a child in the Christian faith. Baptism days offer each of us the opportunity to reflect on our own ministry as parents.

In his book, Let the Children Come, Daniel Erdlander shares a number of ideas for raising children "wet", his term for children whose families live out their Baptismal Covenant in everyday life. Are you looking for ways to nurture your child's faith? Why not try a few of these ideas?

Nurture your own Christian faith.
We cannot give to our children what we do not have ourselves. Through worship, prayer, involvement in a small group, etc. we grow and renew our own vital relationship with Christ, receiving forgiveness and new life. These actions speak louder than any words we might say to our children.

Tell the Story.
Read and tell the stories of the Christian people, both the Hebrew Scriptures and those about Jesus and the early Christians. Help your child to know Jesus as a brother and a friend.

Love as God loves-unconditionally.
Let your child know and experience in every way possible that their worth and identity are gifts of baptism, never earned.

Pray for God's help.
Baptism is primarily about God. Connect with God in prayer when you can and as you can. Pray for guidance in this important ministry. Forgive yourself, as God forgives you, when you make a mistake.

Remember that you are not alone.
You have a community of godparents, clergy, friends, and congregation…and above all the promise of Christ who will never forsake you.

Attend church with your child.
Help your child find a place in the Christian community. Include your child in Sunday worship. Participate in the Education Hour as a family.

Serve others as a family.
Visit the sick or help with an outreach project, such as Congregations for the Homeless or Lord's Supper II.

Practice gratitude.
For the precious gift of our children, for the gifts of creation, for the wonder of forgiveness and new life in Christ, for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, for your own baptism, remember to give thanks. Gratitude puts us in touch with the most important thing-it's not what we do, but whose we are that matters most.

Through simple actions and practices like these, God can lead us to a deeper understanding of our role as parents. Remember, God's grace frees us to be human, to love, to be vulnerable, to make mistakes, and to ask for forgiveness when we fail. We don't have to be perfect. The ministry of Christian Parenting is really a journey of growing in faith with our children.

Resources on the Internet

A Family Mission Trip. Starting small is always a good idea, but sometimes God calls us to something bigger. Read about this family's mission trip.

On Being a Godparent. This article from Episcopal Life discusses the joys and struggles of being a godparent.

More Resources for Parents

For information on other parenting topics, please visit the Resources for Parents page. If you need additional assistance, please contact one of the staff people below or by calling the church office at (425) 746-6650.