6 Tips For Long Distance God-Parenting
Help! I Am A God-Mother
Playing the role of God-parent from one country while your God-child resides in another country is challenging to say the least. My dear friend, colleague in ministry and sister along with her husband have entrusted the spiritual nurture of their first child, baby Anna Amelia to me as one of her two Godparents.
Anna-Amelia
The family resides in Barbados and I am in Panama. Truly a long-distance affair.
I have been thinking about it a lot. And since I am accustomed to giving parents advice on this issue, I decided to revisit and listen to my own counsel. This is wise, I think, before my God-children decide to divorce me.
Being a God Mother or God Father is not an easy task. I might be stating the obvious for some of you. However, the fact is too many persons (including some parents) tend to see this responsibility as a position of status and prestige, without realizing that an awesome responsibility has been placed in their hands. So I made up a list for myself and I’m sharing it with you.
6 Helpful Long- Distance God Parenting Tips
Attend First Ceremony – It doesn’t matter how far away you live. You should be present at this first ceremony of Baptism or Dedication. Some churches make this mandatory. My sister & colleague is Moravian and my presence is mandatory. I guess I won’t be missing this ceremony!
Make a Chart of your one or several God children. I have 6! I found this idea and thought it was just so practical. Keep your chart in a prominent place. It can be a mini-one in your diary or a large one hanging from a wall in your bedroom or office.
List their names, birthday, date of Baptism or Dedication, other rites of passage like first day at school and so on. In this regard, you will need the help of the parents to send you informative updates and pictures.
Pray Regularly – Keep your God child(ren) on your prayer list and pray for them. Your main role of spiritual nurture, and not the buying of expensive gifts, is the most important thing you could do as one who sponsors a child.
Maintain Contact and Communication – Even before the child is able to speak, ask the parents to put him or her on the phone so they get accustomed to your voice. Write and send cards for anniversary or Baptism/Dedication ceremony, birthdays, graduations and so on.
Most children today know their way around a computer better than we the ancients. If you are reading this online, then you are not too ancient then. Keep in touch via the Internet by using email and Instant Messengers.
Spend Time together - When possible spend time with the family of your God child or invite the child to visit with you. This might include Summer vacations or other school breaks and use of your vacation time.
Give Useful Nurturing Gifts - Too often parents look for God parents with “deep-pockets” for their children. Those parents have missed the point of this religious role. When properly understood, God parents should appreciate their role primarily as support in spiritual education and nurture of children.
I believe that gifts especially when one is far away – should be used to advance this role. It makes sense then that your gifts be mostly of a religious nature. This is not an easy choice when competing with violent video games, dolls that scream out commercialized versions of beauty, and other useless and psychologically damaging toys.
So, where on earth do I get these ’spiritual nurturing gifts’ that are not boring? Can anyone tell me why products geared towards Christians tend to be so boring? Anyway, I will continue checking out things for my half-dozen God children. Who knows what I might find.
I will post my findings once I am satisfied…
Until then,
Marvia
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July 11th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Cool, this is interesting and something i never really thought through that much. I always said id prefer the role of Aunt our godparent rather than that of parent because i will always have the assurance that at the end of the day i can send the kids home
.
Thanks for giving me something more to think about. My godparent is a long distant godparent i think i’ll send him a link to this blog im sure he will appreciate it. (Hope he doesn’t think im sending him a message… i honestly think this is interesting)
Bless
Derri
July 11th, 2007 at 1:06 am
Please send it on Derri.
And I’m sure your Godparent will find it useful. These tips are good for both sponsorship relationships that are not working and those that are vibrant.
Happy to help as I have been helped in this process myself.
July 11th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
this must be the cutest baby since her mother,… Any way i think the notes are really helpful especially since as a pastor i have so many (everybody wants the pastor as God parent). i must say i have tried to insist upon the God parents i counsel that it is a very important responsibility, and should not be taken lightly. In our Moravian church the vows that are to be taken carry important and significant meaning…especially to train up the child in the fear of the Lord. and i have said to many “if you are not ready nor willing to answer truthfully please do not show up on the Sunday morning”..(hint,Hint) lol.
Now to the other part about the helpful hints i must say i will take them to heart and try and “find” my Godchildren wherever they are around the globe…
blessings
Empress
July 12th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Empress,
Welcome back! Yes, Anna is the cutest little thing. I can’t wait to hold her.
Now, I believe you meant she is the cutest little thing since her Godmother and I do agree.