Baby Baptism Gifts
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Baby baptism gifts are a nice and thoughtful way to let parents know that this occurrence in their child's life is an important and treasured moment. While many denominations do not baptize infants, there are several that do, and their belief systems look at the practice in different ways. And there are plenty of arguments, many of them quite emotional, for both sides, both pro infant baptism and those who are against the practice. But this lens is meant to help its readers decide on thoughtful and meaningful baby baptism gifts, and the disagreement over the actual practice of infant baptism is for another time. Just as first birthday gifts are really for the parents, so are gifts offered to an infant at the time of baptism. The child will not remember the gift being given, and can only look at the gift later in life with some emotional distance. The reality is that infant gifts for being baptized really are for the parents; for encouragement, for support and for congratulations.
When buying infant gifts that celebrate such events as a baptismal or dedication, it is important to know where the parents' mindset is. What is important to them in terms of values and life choices? After all, it really is them you are going to be speaking to when you give that thoughtful gift. If the parents are pro-life, a donation to a local ministry or agency that encourages and assists pregnant women to birth their children might be a very wonderful and meaningful gift, particularly give in the name of the baptized infant. Even if the parents are pro-choice, a year's support of an impoverished child overseas, again in the name of the baptized infant might be a very meaningful gesture. This would be one the of the very important baby baptism gifts to share with the child when he or she was old enough to understand its implications.
If the family is Catholic, there are many Catholic book and gift stores from which to order baby baptism gifts that will be a wonderful gesture of love for the infant and parents. Items that can be purchased include baby baptism crosses, rosaries, socks and shoes, baptism gowns and suits, baby albums and jewelry. If there is not such a store nearby, there are several Catholic online vendors that offer many items for sale. Prices for many of these items are very reasonable and can be purchased if a person has a credit card. Baby baptism gifts can be quite endearing and thoughtful if some study is put into the hopes and dreams of the parents for the child. Matching a gift to those dreams and aspirations might be most stunning to the parents and who doesn't hope for stunning sometimes?
If the church where the baby is to be baptized is Episcopalian, the gifts will still be about the same. In fact gifts bought at a Catholic store for infant baptisms would probably be quite appropriate unless they were rosary beads or something that mentioned specific Catholic doctrine. There is at least one Episcopalian gift store on line which can answer any question one might have about appropriate baby baptism gifts. Since the Methodist church also does infant baptism, there may be denominationally appropriate baby baptism gifts more in line with their theology. While the Catholic and Episcopalian traditions are more God centered, Methodists are more comfortable talking about Jesus Christ as the embodiment of God. As such, there may be baby gifts for baptized infants in the Methodist tradition that speak more about Jesus as friend of little children or Jesus as the shepherd.
The history of infant baptizing appears to go back all the way to the time of the early church when in Acts, entire households were baptized. Please see I Corinthians 1: 16, Acts 11: 14, 16:15, 33 and 18:8. Many early church Fathers, including Augustine, Polycarp, Origen and Cyprian who all argued for its authenticity and importance. There have been many arguments over whether or not the practice is legitimate. Some believe that infant baptism gives too much confidence to a person that no matter how they live in adult life they will go to heaven. Thoughtful arguments can be made for both the pros and cons, but one thing remains solid for those who call themselves Christians: there is only one name under which a person can have eternal life in heaven. "Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole...neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4: 10, 12)
Baby baptism gifts are a very personal issue and should be thoughtfully and carefully chosen. While the expense of the gift is not important by any means, the difference between buying something that will just collect dust on the shelf and something that will be cherished for a very long time can be huge. And that difference may just be a little more thought put into the gift. And by the way, if you are invited to an infant baptism and don't believe in the practice yourself, it's not your place to go and set the parents straight that day. Instead, love them, support them, pray for them and help them to see your genuine care for them as people. Perhaps the day will come when you can share your belief in a non-threatening way.
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