Greetings, Friends!
As you are reading this blog I am blissfully spending time with my first grandchild! Lilah Kay was born October 20th and since she is my first, and at least for this moment, only grandchild I can honestly say she is without question my absolute favorite!
The birth of a child often leads us to thoughts about the future. What hopes and dreams do we have for this child? What spiritual gifts will she be blessed with? What kind of character will she have? What will the world that she will inherit look like? What needs to change and how can we help to bring about that change?
I’ve been praying for Lilah Kay since the moment I knew she was coming and I will continue to pray for her as long as I draw breath. As it is with any new parent or grandparent, I want the absolute BEST for her. And really, isn’t that the way God feels about all of us as God’s children? God wants the best for each of us.
The Resolutions that come out of each General Convention help point out ways The Episcopal Church can work toward a world where every one of God’s children shares in God’s best. In a way, working on a particular resolution is working on the answer to a prayer. For example, I’m thankful that Lilah’s mother was able to receive excellent prenatal care and I pray that if motherhood is in Lilah’s future, she will also have access to good healthcare (D014 ~ Addressing Maternal Mortality).
I’m thankful that Lilah has clean water to drink and bathe in and I pray that she lives in a future where that is true for all of God’s children (B025 ~ Water as a Human Right).
I pray that Lilah grows up with a generous heart (B028 ~ Continue Commitment to Growing Financial Generosity within the Church), a passion for racial equality and social justice (B004 ~ Encouraging the Language of Dismantling Racism and Racial Healing, Justice and Reconciliation), and a desire to love and help all her neighbors (A207 Encouraging Mission as Part of the Beloved Community).
I pray that Lilah always plays well with others (A225 ~ On the Importance of Ecumenism for Becoming Beloved Community) and learns to disagree with respect and love (B009 ~ Civil Discourse).
I pray that Lilah learns to care for and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation (C008 ~ Advocacy for Creation Care).
And I pray that Lilah will be involved in a Church that loves and supports, not only her, but all of God’s children. A Church that encourages its people to learn, and grow, and work together as the living, breathing body of Christ. A Church that works toward every one of God’s children sharing in God’s best.
This is a lot to pray for and a lot to work toward! I have confidence that the Church I know and love — The Episcopal Church — will be praying and working with me, not only for Lilah Kay, but for all God’s children.
Let us pray –
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the
joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient
wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love
whatever is just and true and good, following the example of
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP pg. 829)
~ The Rev. Diana Walworth, Resolution Review Committee, Diocesan Council
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