READINGS FOR NAMING CEREMONIES The Language of Happiness - Susan Polis Schulz I want you to be happy. I want you to fill your heart with feelings of wonder and to be full of courage and hope. I want you to have the type of friendship that is a treasure - and the kind of love that is beautiful forever. I wish you contentment: the sweet, quiet, inner kind that comes around and never goes away. I want you to have hopes and have them all come true. I want you to have a real understanding of how unique and rare you truly are. I want to remind you that the sun may disappear for a while, but it never forgets to shine. May the words you listen to say the things you need to hear. And may a cheerful face lovingly look back at you when you happen to glance in your mirror. I wish you the insight to see your inner and outer beauty. I wish you sweet dreams. I want you to have times when you feel like singing and dancing and laughing out loud. I want you to be able to make your good times better and your hard times easier to handle. I wish I could find a way to tell you - in untold ways - how important you are to me. Of all the things I’ll be wishing for, wherever you are and whatever I may do, there will never be a day in my life when I won’t be wishing for the best… for you. The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents - William Martin Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives, Such striving may seem admirable, But it is a way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder And the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself. A slightly adapted Deisderata - Max Ehrman Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. The Blessings of our Hands (adapted from a wedding reading) These are the hands of your best friends, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your naming day, as your family promises to love you today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold you as a child, and as you grow These are the hands that will teach you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. On the Night you were born by Nancy Tillman On the night you were born, The moon smiled with such wonder That the stars peeked in to see you And the night wind whispered, “Life will never be the same.” Because there had never been anyone like you…ever in the world. So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain That they whispered the sound of your wonderful name. It sailed through the farmland High on the breeze…

Over the ocean… And through the trees… Until everyone heard it And everyone knew Of the one and only ever you. Not once had there been such eyes, Such a nose, Such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes. When the polar bears heard, They danced until dawn. From faraway places, The geese flew home. The moon stayed up until Morning next day. And none of the ladybugs flew away. So whenever you doubt just how special you are And you wonder who loves you, how much and how far, Listen for geese honking high in the sky. (They’re singing a song to remember you by.) Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo. (It’s because they’ve been dancing all night for you!) Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind. (Listen closely…it’s whispering your name again!) If the moon stays up until morning one day, Or a ladybug lands and decides to stay, Or a little bird sits at your window awhile, It’s because they’re all hoping to see you smile… For never before in story or rhyme (not even once upon a time) Has the world ever known a you, my friend, And it never will, not ever again… The Universe blew every trumpet And played every horn On the wonderful, marvellous Night you were born. Welcome by Selina Denton. Welcome to sunlight Welcome to the soft rain on your face Welcome to the rush of the wind Welcome to the hush of the sea Welcome to much joy and a little sorrow Welcome to birdsong Welcome to music and laughter Welcome to the leaves on the tree Welcome to the miracle of words Welcome to the whispering of rivers Welcome to dreaming Welcome to everything you can see and name Welcome to your mother’s care Welcome to your father’s smile Welcome to the love of all here Welcome to the world

‘They Tuck You Up’ by Adrian Mitchell….after Philip Larkin They tuck you up, your mum and dad They read you Peter Rabbit, too. They give you all the treats they had And add some extra, just for you.

They were tucked up when they were small, (Pink perfume, blue tobacco-smoke), By those whose kiss healed any fall, Whose laughter doubled any joke.

Man hands on happiness to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. So love your parents all you can And have some cheerful kids yourself. ‘Follow your Dreams’ by Jim Boswell When others say ‘It’s hopeless and it really can’t be done.’ When they tell you ‘It’s all over. It’s a race that can’t be won.’ And they promise ‘You could spend your life just lying in the sun.’ Follow your dreams boy. Follow your dreams! When the people you admire, but who wouldn’t understand, Tell you ‘Other roads are safer. Your dreams are much too grand.’ Or the doubters and the tempters try to take you by the hand. Follow your dreams boy. Follow your dreams! You should listen to the counsel of the people that you trust. But don’t be turned aside just because they might get fussed You live the life that in your heart you know you really must. Follow your dreams boy. Follow your dreams! There is nothing you can’t conquer if you believe you can. No mountains you can’t straddle, no oceans you can’t span. Just conjure up a vision and set yourself a plan. Follow your dreams boy. Follow your dreams!

A baby (by an unknown author)

A baby will make love stronger

Days shorter

Nights longer

Bankroll smaller

Clothes shabbier

The past forgotten

And the future worth living for

‘’A Parents’ Wish’ by an unknown author We wish you a childhood full of fun and games And we wish you memories that have little pain. We wish you to learn by making mistakes. We wish you to love and never to hate. We wish you the strength to make up your own mind But we wish that your heart will be gentle and kind. We wish you to reach out when a friend needs a hand And we wish you to help him face life's demand. We wish your life brings you some ups and some downs. But we wish you will smile much more than you'll frown. We wish you will taste life's 'Sweet smell of success'. Only to find no replacement for true love and happiness. We wish life will teach you to stand on your own. But we wish you to know that you're never alone. We wish you success in all that you do. And we hope that all your dreams will come true. But the one thing above and beyond all of this Is the love that is felt by your 'Parents' Wish' Family & Friends - Poem by Lizzy Pureheart We all have a cherished garden we tend - It is planted with love of family and friends. The memories and dreams we treasure and share Are like beautiful roses found blooming there. The comfort and care on which we depend Is given with love between family and friends. The sunshine of laughter and rain of a tear Only make our love grow with each passing year. We may all be ourselves with no need to pretend Because of the love of family and friends; They notice the rainbows and weather the showers. They overlook weeds and praise all our flowers. The most valuable thing is the time that we spend Tending this garden with family and friends. When counting our blessings, we know from the start That family and friends come first in our heart. A Parent's Love By Darla Foster I sit here and watch You grow day by day And I often wonder The words that I’ll say What tidbits of wisdom Will I impart Will I remember

To share my heart I plan to be there To teach you to drive To help you reach for The goals that you strive The day that you marry I want to be there To witness the joy Of the love that you share But until that day comes I hope that you know How much you are loved Each day as you grow. 'Welcome to the World' by Si Kahn Pick me out an old-time song Sing it right and sing it wrong Play a tune that's nine months long Welcome to the World Take my fiddle and my bow Play you every tune I know Keep you dancing while you grow Welcome to the World We've got nappies by the pail Mama's skinny as a rail Got the whole world by the tail Welcome to the World Listen to that baby squall Must be nearly ten feet tall And you'd think she'd done it all Welcome to the World In my mind I see you clear Changing through the days and years And we're glad you're finally here Welcome to the World May you grow up proud and strong May your life be rich and long May your nights be filled with song Welcome to the World

Nicholas Gordon - “You are the rose about to bloom”: You are the rose about to bloom, The colour soon to wake, The perfume set to scent the breeze, The bud about to break. You stand upon the lip of time Alight with what will be, And see yourself out to the sky Across the open sea. We see you vertically, a gift Too beautiful to plumb, And treasure all the years you were And all the years to come. Nicholas Gordon - “I wish for you one thing, and that is love” I wish for you one thing, and that is love: Love for life, and pure, unfettered joy At being here upon this vivid earth. May great pleasure come from giving pleasure, And love that streams out from your burning heart Light the darkened world and make it bloom. I wish you to be loved both well and long By all those whom you love; that these be many, Among whom, not the least, might be yourself. May you love the beautiful and good, And always act with honesty and justice, Being what you would that others be. Song For A Child, Newly Born by Felix Dennis May your thoughts be with the living, May your hand and eye be swift, May your thanks be with the giving And never with the gift. May your kindness be unfailing, May your ship glide by each shoal, May the helmsman of each sailing Be the captain of your soul. May you pass through all life’s dangers, May your lovers all be true, May you learn that this world’s strangers Were friends you never knew. May your laughter ring like fountains, May your heart be wild and free, May you walk among the mountains But live beside the sea.

Naming by Gillian Ferguson (Name) your name is the print love has made in the world, your body the growing home your spirit/personality has made upon the earth, your heart the rose we have grown on life’s stem, Your sapling hands hold the maker’s art, you are brother/sister to all that crawls and walks and cries upon the earth, even your hair cousin to the dandelion, your eye to bee-loving flower, fingers to the fragile mouse – remember in all your seasons, you are part of the garden of the world, shining the bottled light of us, the best of us, which is love. May all present be trees, That bending, protect you from wind, May we be the sun In the days and clouds of your life, Moon of your night, Smiling forever among candle stars. Your name given here today was written in the book of life, only for you as the seed dreams of light, green and flower in every detail, and is now spoken into the world – (Name), our child, Earth’s fresh and dearest creature – Your name is the print Love has made in the world.

Kenneth L. Patton: Nothing is strange to a child for whom everything is new. Where all things are new nothing is novel. The child does not yet know what belongs and what does not; Therefore for her all things belong. The ear of a child is open to all music. Her eyes are open to all arts. Her mind is open to all tongues. Her being is open to all manners. In the child’s country there are no foreigners. Dorothy Law Nolte (most often use this without the ‘negatives’) If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If a child lives with encouragement, She learns confidence; If a child lives with tolerance, She learns to be patient; If a child lives with praise, She learns to appreciate; If a child lives with acceptance, She learns to love. If a child lives with approval, She learns to like herself. If a child lives with fairness, Se learns judgement; If a child lives with honesty, She learns truthfulness. If a child lives with security, She learns to have faith in herself and others. If a child lives with friendliness, She learns to give love to the world.

Anonymous: These children with their red apple cheeks and runny noses fill my heart to the brim! They frolic like puppies turning end over end again and again and again. How innocent and clever their eyes are...full of love for Grandma and her cookie jar. They joyfully exclaim throwing their arms open wide when I arrive and give exquisitely sweet kisses and hugs and waves goodbye. My oh my oh my ! Grandma's eyes are never dry!

I want you to be happy. Anonymous:

I want you to be happy. I want you to fill your heart with feelings of wonder and to be full of courage and hope.

I want you to have the type of friendship that is a treasure - and the kind of love that is beautiful forever. I wish you contentment: the sweet, quiet, inner kind that comes around and never goes away. I want you to have hopes and have them all come true. I want you to have a real understanding of how unique and rare you truly are.

I want to remind you that the sun may disappear for a while, but it never forgets to shine. May the words you listen to say the things you need to hear. And may a cheerful face lovingly look back at you when you happen to glance in your mirror. I wish you the insight to see your inner and outer beauty.

I wish you sweet dreams. I want you to have times when you feel like singing and dancing and laughing out loud. I want you to be able to make your good times better and your hard times easier to handle. I wish I could find a way to tell you - in untold ways - how important you are to me.

Of all the things I’ll be wishing for, wherever you are and whatever I may do, there will never be a day in my life when I won’t be wishing for the best… for you.

John Greenleaf Whittier - “The Little People” A dreary place would this earth be Were there no little people in it; The song of life would lose its mirth, Were there no children to begin it; No forms, like buds to grow, And make the admiring heart surrender; No little hands on breast and brow, To keep the thrilling love chords tender. The sterner souls would grow more stern, Unfeeling nature more inhuman, And man to stoic coldness turn, And woman would be less than woman. Life’s song indeed would lose its charm,

were there no babies to begin it; A doleful place this world would be

were there no little people in it. William Wordsworth – My heart leaps up My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky; So was it when my life began: So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die! The Child is father of the Man And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety. Robert Fulghum - "If you have ever wondered" Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school. These are the things I learned. Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup - they all die. So do we. And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living. Think of what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put back things where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. We Call You By Your Name, Anonymous:

Celebrant or reader: We welcome you among us All: We call you by your name Your child’s name here (first name only, or all names – you choose) May your name be spoken patiently and always used with love We welcome you among us We call you by your name Child’s name here May your name bring delight to your family and recall joy among your friends We welcome you among us We call you by your name Child’s name here May you speak your own name with gratitude for your deepening sense of worth We welcome you among us We call you by your name Child’s name here May your name one day be the key that unlocks your true love’s heart We welcome you among us We call you by your name Child’s name here

May your name reflect your special gifts, your wonderful, blessed self. We welcome you among us We call you by your name Lifetime Memories...for Our Children by Dr. A.D. Witham. Pause with your child-when others hurry by; Walk with your child-when others are running; Talk with your child-when others prefer shouting; Listen to our child-when others appear preoccupied; Smile with your child-when others can find only frowns; Play with your child-when others prefer to be entertained; Praise your child-when others can find only fault; Learn from your child-when others have forsaken curiosity; Dream with your child-when others have become cynical; Read with your child-when others prefer television; Pray with your child-when others have lost faith; Apologize to your child-when others pretend perfection; Discipline your child-when others fail to establish limits; Hug your child-when others fail to sense the power of touch Adrian Sibley – from an article in the Guardian. "A child's imagination knows no bounds and is not limited by the rules of the real world. That's something I am not only keen to encourage in my daughter but also in myself. I always thought the world would become bigger as I got older, but more often than not it can become smaller, colder and, well, just less inspiring. I flatter myself I know about the ways of the world. However, a little person can set you right and put you back on the path of true learning, keeping your imagination open and even your dreams alive." A Poem For Parents, Anonymous: There are little eyes upon you, And they are watching night and day; There are little ears that quickly Take in every word you say. There are little hands all eager To do everything you do; and a little girl who's dreaming Of the day she'll be like you. You're the little girl's idol; You're the wisest of the wise; In her little mind, about you No suspicions ever rise. She believes in you devotedly,

Holds that all you say and do, She will say and do in your way When she's grown up like you. There's a wide-eyed little girl Who believes you're always right; And her ears are always open, And she watches day and night. You are setting an example Every day in all you do; For the little girl who's waiting To grow up to be just like you. Anonymous: I’m sorry for the sleepless nights The times I make you sigh I’m sorry for the crankiness The times I scream and cry I’m sorry I don’t have the words For why I need you so But there is one important thing That I need you to know You are the centre of my world You’re everything to me You are my sun, my moon, my stars You’re all that I can see I’m only little a short time Soon I won’t need you so But I will love you all my life I just wanted you to know Anonymous: You are a princess in our hearts and we care for you so much. we love the fondness in your eyes and your tender little touch. We looked at you when you were born, and knew then straight away, that we would be forever here to watch you grow and play. You bring to us a heart of joy, and memories so great, and a powerful sense of parenthood that no one can debate. We watch you sleep and dream of things that we can only wonder.

That innocent look upon your face just makes our hearts grow fonder. We’ll see you run and jump and shout and calling out our names. No love that we have ever known could ever feel the same. No suffering or tragedy or deeply seated pain could ever over shadow the bond that we retain. And so our little princess before you go to sleep, Remember we are your parents and we are yours to keep. Footprints, Anonymous: “Walk a little slower Daddy” said a child so small “I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall. Sometimes your steps are very fast, Sometimes they’re hard to see; So walk a little slower Daddy, For you are leading me. Someday when I’m all grown up, You’re what I want to be; Then I will have a little child Who’ll want to follow me. And I would want to lead just right, And know that I was true; So walk a little slower Daddy, For I must follow you. Before I Came, by Beverley Butcher What did they do, in the days before I came? Vodka, and dancing, and staying out late. Breakfast at tea-time, Reading the papers, a long lie-in. And space in the bed. Now it's daisy chains, and super-heroes, Butterfly wings, and light-sabres, Eating pink cake - Naming stars, And catching snowflakes in their mouths. No room in the bed, And a half-sleep on its edge Whilst I snore, stretched out, a star-fish. Time escaping, before I came,

And I cast my spell. And filled the house with possibility; All the things I want to do, And all the things I’m going to be, So - let's make a den - Take our biscuits in. Carve lanterns at Halloween, Watch grown-ups do star jumps, on a trampoline. And wonder what they ever did… In the days before I came. Brand New Little Daughter~ by Linda Lee Elrod ~ She´s your brand new little daughter, so enchanted, sweet and smart. With a coo, she´ll have you smiling With a laugh, she´ll own your heart. It´s the time for hugs and kisses, Reassurance when she cries. It´s the time for making moments Full of love and Lullabies. For these golden days of childhood come and go so very fast - Hold her tight and love her dearly. Make these precious moments last. “We loved you from the start We loved you from the very start You stole our breath, embraced out hearts Our life together has just begun You’re part of us little one As a mother with child, each day I grew As a father with hope each day was brighter Our minds were filled with thoughts of you We’d daydream of the things we would share, Like late night bottles and teddy bears Like first steps and skinned knees, Like bedtime stories and ABCS We thought of things you’d want to know, Like how birds fly and how flowers grow We thought of lessons wed need to share Like standing tall and playing fair When we first saw your precious face, We prayed your life be touched with grace We thanked the angels from above, And promised you unending love Each day we lay you down to sleep, We gently kiss your head and cheek We count your little fingers and toes We memorise your eyes and nose We linger at your nursery door, Awed each day we love you more Through misty eyes we dim the light We whisper I love you every night

We loved you from the start You stole out breath, embraced our hearts As a family our journey has begun Our hearts are you’re forever little bee. I Wish... Anonymous: I wish you the gift of empathy – the ability to stand in another’s shoes and know their needs I wish you kindness – given to you freely as a gift and not as an obligation I wish you perception – to see without bigotry or self esteem I wish you courage in all the hard times you may meet I wish you praise for work well done, the satisfaction of achievement, the joy of creation I wish that you become a person that shines with kindness and intelligence and love of life I wish you an exploratory mind and respect for the beliefs of others and I wish you the love that changes and grows with every year that passes