The weekend of September 27, some of our family came into town for Brennan’s dedication at church to witness our commitment made before the Lord to raise Brennan according to His grace and for His glory.  Our family also stood with us, pledging to help us with the huge responsibility and joy we have ahead of us.  For children dedications, our church has the daddy write a prayer to pray over their child before the congregation.  It’s always so special to hear the prayers of the fathers for their little ones. 

Mac & Julie, Matt’s folks, and my folks all came into town for the celebration.  Some highlights were our family dinners on Friday and Saturday nights; playing “Yahtzee” with Mac and Julie (they’re always our game buddies); going to Salado’s Silver Spur Theatre to watch Gone to the Dogs, a play that had a blend of live, vaudeville-style acts and classic silent cinema (it was a fantastic family oriented, small town outing that even Brennan enjoyed); and the luncheon we hosted after church that also included “The Ruts” and Jill’s folks, Bob and Jennifer.

One of the most meaningful parts of the weekend was after everyone left and Brennan was asleep for the night, and Matt and I were left alone in the quiet stillness of the evening, soaking in the blessing of the celebration as well as the gifts that were left by our parents and Julie.  One of the verses I’ve been working on memorizing has been Deuteronomy 4:9 which says, “Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”  That verse comes from a spiel that Moses was giving the Israelites before they entered the promised land, reminding them of the awesome ways they saw with their very own eyes how He powerfully and personally moved on their behalf with an outstretched and faithful arm.  Moses also warned them to 1) not forget and 2) teach their children and the following generations.  Moses must have known the road ahead was going to be a tough one; time and time again he reminded the people to not forget, to obey, and to teach the next generations.

So Matt and I gave our parents (and any of our siblings who wanted to participate) an assignment to give Brennan something that represented the "things their eyes have seen" that are ways the Lord has shown His faithfulness, power, and might in their lives.  What are the things in their lives that the Lord has done that they’d want Brennan, the next generation, to know?  What are the ways the Lord has demonstrated His faithfulness in their lives that they hold onto and remember when the going gets tough that they’d want to make sure the next generation knows, too?  They could be as creative, simple, elaborate or detailed as they wanted. 

On Sunday evening then, Matt and I sat humbly in awe before the gifts from our folks and Julie that have the fingerprints of God all over them.  I take that back.  We sat humbly in awe before Him who has showed Himself strong to each of them time and time again, in significant, specific, and powerful ways.  He has been indescribable!  The written gifts from our family are treasures, legacies, that will be tucked away and given to Brennan at a time, we pray, that will be appointed and purposed by God.  

 Father, we thank you so much for the gift of our son, Brennan, and for the privilege and honor it is to raise him in Your presence and among family and friends who love You.

 We pray that an early age Brennan would come to know you as His Lord and Savior, that he would be someone who worships You in spirit and in truth for his entire life.

May You bless him with a sense of awe for Your mysteries, an inquisitive mind for Your Truth, and a childlike faith that carries him through all the seasons of his life.

 Jesus, may You be his first love, his rock, and his confidence; that in You, he may be strong and courageous knowing that You will never leave him nor forsake him.

 And Lord, we humbly ask that you would give me and Meghan wisdom, discernment, and grace as we begin this new role as parents.  Help us in our weakness to live the story of Your Gospel before Brennan in our daily lives, and may we see Your face afresh through Brennan’s eyes as he marvels at Your creation and discovers Your greatness for the first time. 

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this that the Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12