A Christening Prayer

 A good friend asked me to be her daughter’s godmother or “Ninang”  at her christening. Of course, I gladly accepted it. My friend also asked me to lead the opening prayer. I still said yes even though the thought of speaking in front of a crowd frightens me.

I admit that I was lost while thinking over what to say or how to begin the prayer. I am not a writer like my HS best friend or my daughter who has lots of ideas in her mind. Also, I want to write something special as this will be my first to write something for someone, and then say it in-front of many people.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful day as we gather here to celebrate [name of the child]’s Christening. 

We thank you for bringing us together to witness the beginning of his/her journey to Christian life. We pray that you continue to bless and guide his/her parents {and siblings} in helping him/her become a God fearing and God loving person. We ask that you give them strength and patience in their journey as a family. 

We also pray for [name of the child]’s  Ninangs, Ninongs and everyone present here today that they may help his/her parents in bringing him/her up to be a good Christian and be a loving inspiration to others.

We thank you Lord for [names of parents] for sharing their joy and blessings to us through their son/daughter, [name of the child]. 

Lastly, we ask you Lord to bless the food that we are about to share. Bless the people who took time to prepare it and to serve it. May the meal and our celebration nourish our bodies and strengthen the bonds that unite us in love and faithful service. Amen.

A Beautiful Prayer...

Oh creator of all things, help me. For this day I go
out into the world naked and alone, and without
your hand to guide me I will wander far from the
path which leads to success and happiness.

I ask not for gold or garments or even opportunities
equal to my ability; instead, guide me so that I
may acquire ability equal to my opportunities.

You have taught the lion and the eagle how to hunt
and prosper with teeth and claw. Teach me how to
hunt with words and prosper with love so that I
may be a lion among men and an eagle in the market place.

Help me to remain humble through obstacles and failures;
yet hide not from mine eyes the prize that
will come with victory.

Assign me tasks to which others have failed; yet
guide me to pluck the seeds of success from their failures.
Confront me with fears that will temper
my spirit; yet endow me with courage to laugh at my misgivings,

Spare me sufficient days to reach my goals; yet
help me to live this day as though it be my last.

Guide me in my words that they may bear fruit;
yet silence me from gossip that none be maligned.

Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying again;
yet show me the way to make use of the law of averages.
Favor me with alertness to recognize opportunity;
yet endow me with patience which will concentrate my strength.

Bathe me in good habits that the bad ones may
drown; yet grant me compassion for weaknesses in others.
Suffer me to know that all things shall pass;
yet help me to count my blessings of today.

Expose me to hate so it not be stranger;
yet fill my cup with love to turn strangers into friends.

But all these things be only if thy will.
I am a small and lonely grape clutching the vine yet
thou hast made me different from all others.
Verily, there must be a special place for me.
Guide me. Help me. Show me the way.

Let me become all you planned for me when my
seed was planted and selected by you to sprout
in the vineyard of the world.

~ The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino ~