Honored Guest

"It is the parents' vocation to welcome their children as honored guests in their home..."

"Through birth a child is given to parents; through baptism a child is given to God. At baptism the parents acknowledge that their parenthood is a participation in God's parenthood, that all fatherhood and motherhood comes from God. Thus baptism frees the parents from a sense of owning their children. Children belong to God and are given to the parents to love and care for in God's name. It is the parents' vocation to welcome their children as honored guests in their home and bring them to the physical, emotional, and spiritual freedom that enables them to leave the home and become parents themselves. Baptism reminds parents of this vocation and sets children on the path of freedom." (from today's Daily Meditation, Henry Nouwen)

What a beautiful and liberating reminder. Our children are honored guests in our home, whom God has asked us to love and care for the way He cares for us. With a mystical blend of inexhaustible love, kindness, grace and uncompromising truth. Respectful of our free will, yet protectively urging us towards true freedom.