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PRAYER FOR AN ADOPTED CHILD

We have been blessed with the precious gift of this child. After so much waiting and wishing, we are filled with wonder and gratitude as we call you our daughter/son. Our daughter/son, our child, you have grown to life apart from us. But now we hold you close to our hearts and cradle you in our arms with our love. We welcome you into the circle of our family and embrace you with the beauty of a rich tradition.

We pledge ourselves to the creation of a loving home and to a life of compassion for others, hoping that you will grow to cherish and emulate these ideals.

God of new beginnings, teach us to be mother and father, worthy of this sacred trust of life. May our daughter/son grow in health. May s/he be strong in mind and kind in heart, a lover of Torah, a seeker of peace. Bless all of us together beneath your shelter of shalom (peace), and grant our new family, always, the harmony and love we feel today.

AN ADOPTION POEM

Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone
but very remarkably,
all my own.
And never forget,
for a single minute,
that you weren't born
under my heart,
but in it.

iRISH BABY BLESSING

May all the blessing of our Lord touch your life today.
May He send His little angels to protect you on your way.
Such a wee little fit, sent from above.
Someone so precious to cherish and love.
May sunshine and moonbeams dance over you head.
As you quietly slumber in your bed.
May good luck be with you wherever you go.
And your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.

BABY'S WAY by Hindu Poet Rabindranath Tagore

If Baby only wanted to, he could fly up to heaven this moment.
It is not for nothing that he does not leave us.
He loves to rest his head on mother's bosom, and cannot ever
bear to lose sight of her.
Baby knows all manner of wise words, though few on earth can
understand their meaning.
It is not for nothing that he never wants to speak.
The one thing he wants is to learn mother's words from
mother's lips. That is why he looks so innocent.
Baby had a heap of gold and pearls, yet he came like a beggar
on to this earth.
It is not for nothing he came in such a disguise.
This dear little naked mendicant pretends to be utterly
helpless, so that he may beg for mother's wealth of love.
Baby was so free from every tie in the land of the tiny
crescent moon.
It was not for nothing he gave up his freedom.
He knows that there is room for endless joy in mother's little
corner of a heart, and it is sweeter far than liberty to be caught
and pressed in her dear arms.
Baby never knew how to cry. He dwelt in the land of perfect
bliss.
It is not for nothing he has chosen to shed tears.
Though with the smile of his dear face he draws mother's
yearning heart to him, yet his little cries over tiny troubles
weave the double bond of pity and love.

CATHOLIC PARENTS BLESSING

"May the Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, bless you, my child, for time and eternity, and may this blessing remain forever with you. Amen."

JEWISH PARENTS BLESSING

Blessing for son: May God bless you as He blessed the sons of Joseph –Ephraim and Manasseh.

Blessing for daughters: May God bless you as He blessed Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.

Blessing for all children: “The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance on you and give you peace.” –Numbers 6:24-26

JEWISH PRAYER FOR FIRST-BORN DAUGHTER

Our God and God of our ancestors, our Rock and our Redeemer, with gratitude for the gift of life we pray that our firstborn grow to accept joyfully her share in the tradition of our people. Bless her, Adonai, with health and full years, with happiness and moral strength. Bless us with understanding and wisdom, so that we may truly share in the creation of a life guided by Torah. May our firstborn daughter find favor before You, Adonai, and in the sight of all people. And let us say: Amen.

GODPARENTS BLESSING

I bless this baby to be filled with my unending love. From the center of my heart, I will nurture, guide and teach this child and wish the best upon this new innocent soul.

GRANDPARENTS BLESSING

May you live to see your world fulfilled. May your destiny be for worlds still to come. And may you trust in generations past and yet to be. May your heart be filled with intuition and your words be filled with insight. May songs of praise ever be upon your tongue and your vision be on a straight path before you. May your eyes shine with the light of holy words and your face reflect the brightness of the heavens. May your lips speak wisdom and your fulfillment be in righteousness even as you ever yearn to hear the words of the Divine.

GODPARENTS / GRANDPARENTS VOWS

Do you, ______________ and ______________, vow and promise to take as your spiritual child, ___________________, to nurture and protect, love and strengthen, keep from harms way and help to guide in goodness this new soul on earth?

A SINGLE PARENT'S PRAYER – Author Unknown

Lord, grant me
Time enough
to do all the chores, join in the games, help with the lessons, and say the night prayers, and still have a few moments left over for me.
Energy enough
to be bread-baker and breadwinner, knee-patcher and peacemaker, ballplayer and bill juggler.
Hands enough
to wipe away the tears, to reach out when I'm needed, to hug and to hold, to tickle and touch.
Heart enough
to share and to care, to listen and to understand, and to make a loving home for my family.

BLESSED BE by RaffI

Creator of all things
To you we offer inexpressible thanks
For this, our greatest blessing
And our greatest joy

Keep watch over this little one
And provide, in all who love her
An example worthy
Of your love for us

Help us to spread before her
A canvas of support and care
That one day she may paint upon it
A future only she can dream

Help us to be
The people we strive to be
And help us to see your face
In the Gaia*
In each other,
And in all things

Blessed be!

* You can substitue "God", "Adonai" or "The Divine* if that is more acceptable to your tradition.