A Baby’s Blessing

The days my babies were blessed have been some of the sweetest in my life.

This time with Tabitha I have been thinking how, for nine months, I carried that sweet baby inside of me, sharing everything with her. The burden of her pregnancy was hard, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It challenged every ounce of strength I had. I know it was hard for Jon to watch me go through it. At times he wished he could trade me places, but he couldn’t. He could rub my feet when they were swollen, he could watch the kids in the morning and make breakfast, and hold me when I cried, but he couldn’t carry my burden for me. It was something I had to do alone.

And it was really hard.

So as I watched him take my little Tabitha in his arms and give her a name–a name she will carry for eternity– my heart was full. I was so grateful that this time I didn’t have to carry the burden of creating new life alone. So grateful for this incredible man who shares in my joys, my sorrows, and my burdens.

His responsibility as a father is to give our children the ordinances– the spiritual re-birth– that will allow them to be born again into the Kingdom of God. That is a big burden and I can’t carry it for him. Yet, like he did for me, I can ease the weight of it and stand beside him. I can love him, encourage him, sustain him, and together we can teach and lead our children. Even though there are times when the burden of creating new life– physical and spiritual–will rest solely on one of our shoulders, parenthood is a partnership and we are in it together.

The name we choose to give her is Tabitha Lily Farrell. At this time we would love to give her a blessing. We pray that Tabitha can begin to know that she is she is surrounded by people in the world who want her to be successful and will help her return to thee. As she goes to church and reads the scriptures she will discover her true identity, as a child of God and as a woman. She will be filled with love and light and will be able to ignore Satan’s messages and the voices that the world will throw at her.

We also bless her that she will be able to, when the time is right, be sealed to an eternal companion and have an eternal family. We bless her that she will continue on the path and be protected and have angels around her. Help her be an influence for good and help bless others. We bless her that she will recognize the light of Christ.

Her blessing was short because she started to cry loudly– Jon said she was just adding her own words in– but as I looked up and saw her encircled by righteous, good men I got a big lump in my throat. In a world where so many women suffer because of the wickedness of men, I am so grateful that my little girl has so many righteous men surrounding her with love and power. Men who will teach her, love her, respect her, and watch over her. Men who will help her recognize her worth as a daughter of God and to accomplish her mission.

As a mother I don’t have to do it alone.

I have the help of righteous men–some of the best men on earth– and that is a beautiful partnership.

Oh, and as a side note, several months ago my mother-in-law helped me turn my wedding dress into a temple dress. We cut off the train and I used the fabric from it to make Tabitha’s blessing dress. It turned out so sweet!

4 Comments

Anonymous says:

February 6, 2014 at 5:42 am

I never thought of men angd women's roles in birth and the priesthood that way. Very cool.

Annette says:

February 6, 2014 at 2:37 pm

Beautiful!

Enjoy Birth says:

February 6, 2014 at 9:38 pm

Love what you shared and your insights into this special day. Also love how you used your wedding dress!

Lani says:

February 6, 2014 at 11:41 pm

I love everything about this!

Author: Heather Farrell

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A Baby’s Blessing

Author: Heather Farrell

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