Last Sunday (Palm Sunday) we dedicated Simon to God. From the moment of his birth we recognized that he was a gift from God for us to love and nurture. We wanted to make our commitment public, however, and we wanted to do it while some of our family (Mom and Dad Thrush) were present. Last week we had a chance to share the testimony of Simon's pregnancy/birth. Our pastor led us and the congregation in statements of affirmation, we prayed for Simon, and then we shared a verse and poem that we selected for Simon. The verse comes from 1 John 5.14 - "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."
The poem was a translation of the text "Like a mother who has borne us." Here are the words:
Like a mother who has borne us, held us close in her delight,
fed us freely from her body, God has called us into life.
Like a father who has taught us, grasped our hand and been our guide,
lifted us and healed our sorrows, God has walked with us in life.
Though as children we have wandered, placed our trust in power and might,
left behind our brothers, sisters, God still calls us into life.
When we offer food and comfort, grasp our neighbor’s hand in love,
tread the path of peace and justice, God still walks with us in life.
fed us freely from her body, God has called us into life.
Like a father who has taught us, grasped our hand and been our guide,
lifted us and healed our sorrows, God has walked with us in life.
Though as children we have wandered, placed our trust in power and might,
left behind our brothers, sisters, God still calls us into life.
When we offer food and comfort, grasp our neighbor’s hand in love,
tread the path of peace and justice, God still walks with us in life.
By Daniel Bechtel, 1986
Afterwards we shared cake with our friends from church and enjoyed taking pictures of Simon.
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