The tradition of baby naming ceremony is as ancient as the trees are tall and pre-dates all of Religion. Children were celebrated and given a powerful name to give them good fortune throughout life.
Secular ceremonies for baby naming are increasing, as parents want to be in control of the words spoken and rituals performed.
Poems are a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of a new family member during a baby naming ceremony. I’ve collected some of my favourites, starting with this one
On Children
by Kahlil Gibran
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
https://poets.org/poem/children-1
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