| Most of the following poems and readings could be used for either a christening or naming ceremony, although some celebrants (eg Registrars) do not permit references to God in a naming ceremony. If in doubt speak to the priest or celebrant about your choice of readings.
If you would like to contribute your favourite readings, please email them to hello@mybabycelebration.co.uk.
To help you find a suitable reading, they have been categorised as follows:
Religious Content
 Why God Made Little Boys
God made the world out of His dreams
Of magic mountains, oceans and streams,
Prairies and plans and wooded land,
Then paused and thought “I need someone to stand
On top of mountains, to conquer the seas,
Explore the plains and climb the trees.
Someone to start out small and to grow,
Sturdy, strong as a tree…” And so,
He created boys, full of spirit and fun,
To explore and conquer, to romp and run.
With dirty faces and banged up chins,
With courageous hearts and boyish grins.
When He had completed the task He’d begun
He surely said “A job well done”.
Author Unknown
When God wants something special done
in this world...
He sends a baby and then...
He waits.
Author Unknown
The Interview With God
I dreamed I had an interview with God.
So you would like to interview me? God asked.
If you have the time I said.
God smiled. My time is eternity.
What questions do you have in mind for me?
What surprises you most about humankind?
God answered...
That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again.
That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health.
That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future.
"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived.
Gods hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.
And then I asked...
As a parent, what are some of lifes lessons
you want your children to learn?
To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved.
To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others.
To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness.
To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them.
To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least.
To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings.
To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently.
To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.
"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.
"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"
God smiled and said,
Just know that I am here... always.
Anon
"I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah 1:5
I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is grey. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4
Psalm 16 (New International Version)
Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."
As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.
LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Who Will Be the Greatest
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."
Luke 9:46-48 (New International Version)
See also
Matthew 18:1-6 (New International Version)
Mark 9:33-37 (New International Version)
The Little Children and Jesus
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16 (New International Version)
See also
Matthew 19:13-15
Luke 18:15-17
The Wise and Foolish Builders
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Luke 6:46-49 (New International Version)
NB. These poems and readings have been collected from different sources. Whilst every effort has been made to trace the author, please let us know the name of any not acknowledged.
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