A baby dedication is not a baptism. When a parent decides to dedicate their son or daughter, they acknowledge that their baby is a blessing from God and are accepting the great responsibility that God has given to them. They are choosing to raise their child in the ways put forth in the Bible and thus express this publicly in church in the dedication ceremony. They ask God to use their son or daughter for His purposes and submit their will for their child to His will. When this same child is older they make the decision to be baptized.

Infant baptism, on the other hand, happens when the child is an infant. This also is done in a public ceremony at church. The parents bring their baby to God where the child is washed in the water and the word in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (The very word baptism is from the Greek word meaning “washing”.) When this child is older they take their confirmation vows, confirming their baptism.

Although the beliefs are different as to whether a parent has their baby dedicated or baptized, the similarities are that the parents have a desire to raise their child in a God pleasing way, and state so publicly to the congregation.

And so begins the awesome task and responsibility to guide God’s little blessings.

The thought of developing my website, Baptism and Christening Gifts, actually came to me like a bolt out of the blue on Pentecost Sunday during our church’s confirmation service.  I had always been frustrated with trying to find an appropriate gift for baptisms and confirmations, looking for a gift with religious meaning, and not just something “cutsie”.  And so I began.

Being a retired teacher who is enjoying life-long learning and having worked long and hard on my website, I went out to lunch with my former teacher buddy, Barb.  I wanted to show her the efforts of my labors.  What started out as a “show and tell” turned out to be more learning for me as she, a Baptist, suggested that I also include a category called baby dedication.

Well, that turned out to occupy our topic of conversation for our lunch get-together.  She explained to me that in the Baptist church, they do not baptize babies, but instead, dedicate them.  The children, as they grow up and learn about Jesus, make their own decision when they choose to be baptized.

Many of you have been looking for meaningful baby dedication gifts to celebrate that most special day in the life of your sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nieces, and nephews.  You have been looking for a gift that will be a reminder of the precious gift of life given by our heavenly Father, and the desire to return that life back to Him.

It is my goal to provide this for you in the form of lasting Christian framed art which will continue to have meaning throughout life, long after that day of baby dedication.

My parting thought is Thanks, Barb!  Thanks for being my friend, and thanks for educating me.

This morning, as I awoke, Jessica was on my mind.  You see, today she is being baptized.

Jessica is a typical teenager.  She is fun and giggly.  She loves to run on the beach, collect shells, and build sand castles.  She loves her animals.  Her room has an eclectic collection of pictures, posters, and special objects.

Yet she is a very quiet, sensitive young lady.  She reads, writes creatively, thinks deeply, and takes her time making decisions.  She is focused and responsible, taking Advanced Placement classes at her high school. She discusses things with her mother, an admirable trait today.

Just this month Jessica celebrated her “sweet 16^th” birthday.  She is at that exciting time in her life when she takes on the very adult responsibility of driving a car.  It is a birth, of sorts, because it is the beginning of a new way of life.

This month, also, she is celebrating a more important and meaningful milestone.  She is being baptized today.  I know she has given this much thought, because that is her nature.  She will be washed in the water and the Word.  Her baptism is a birth, as well.  It is a birth into Jesus.

Baptism as a young person is a choice that is made with thoughtfulness and prayer.  It is a choice made after much talking with Jesus.  That alone is the beginning of a new way of life.  It is the beginning of a personal relationship with our Lord.  How wonderful that we can talk to Jesus any time of the day or night, and He will hear us!

God’s richest blessings to you, Jessica, on your baptism day!

This week I was looking in my drawers for something and I came across my christening outfit. My mother had given it to me last Fall when Mom and Dad sold their home and were downsizing and therefore getting rid of things. She couldn’t part with it, so after all these many years she passed its safe-keeping onto me. At the time, I put it in a drawer, and haven’t looked at it since.

Today, I took time again to look at it. The original box, labeled “Pat’s Baby Christening Outfit”, contained my christening gown and slip, booties, sweater, cap, mittens, and blanket, all carefully washed, ironed and lovingly wrapped in tissue paper.

Mom was 85 and I was 61 at the time she gave it to me. I mention this because it carries meaning to both mother and child. It was the baptism outfit I wore on the day that I was baptized “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” and became a child of God. I never had children of my own, but if I had had a little girl, it would have been nice to have her wear the same outfit.

Some things are just special like that, and are often passed from one generation to the next. Baptism and Christening Gifts offers Keepsake Baby Prayer Blanket Gift Sets for baby dedication, baptism, and christening. The soft, fluffy white blanket is wrapped with seven inspired prayers for your precious little baby along with a gift box for safe-keeping so your baby can pass it along to their baby.

What a blessing to be able to look at something that was so lovingly kept for so many years. It is a tangible article that provides a look at the grace of God both forward and backward through time.

Last week was Pentecost Sunday.

The word Pentecost means the fiftieth day.  Websters Dictionary defines Pentecost as a Christian festival commemorating on the seventh Sunday after Easter the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.

Since the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles on Pentecost, it is the day that our Lutheran church observes Confirmation.  Our young people take their confirmation vows, confirming their baptismal vows, and become communicant members of the congregation.

Because Confirmation Day is such an important and significant day, families gather together in celebration and gifts are given.   A well chosen confirmation gift of Christian home decor emphasizes the importance of the day and has lasting meaning throughout the years.

I still have my Christian art given to me for my confirmation 50 years ago!

Webster’s Dictionary defines baptism as: 1. Act or ceremony of baptizing, a sacrament by whose reception one becomes a Christian or a member of a Christian church.  2. Any act or experience that, like baptism, purifies, initiates, etc.

The act or ceremony of baptizing is anticipated by parents, grandparents, godparents, and the congregation to which the member is received.  They look forward to the act or ceremony itself, but also look for a way to commemorate that act with a special gift.  A baptism gift of Christian art  for home decor in Baby’s room makes a meaningful gift that will be appreciated throughout the rest of their life.

This morning in church the pastor mentioned in part of his sermon that the sacraments are a means by which God comes to us.  We, as parents and godparents, bring our children to God, but, more importantly, through the sacrament of holy baptism, God comes to our children.  What a wonderful blessing that is!

Acknowledge that blessing with an infant baptism gift of Christian framed art that will have special meaning throughout your child’s life.  It is Christian home decor that will serve as a daily reminder that God loves them and has come to them.