Oath of a Parent

I read this today on a friend of a friend's blog. It's an oath that parents adopting a child are required to make, in court and before a judge. I think it's an oath that all parents should be required to take.

We, (Father and Mother),

Solemnly swear to treat (child's name)

In all respects as our natural child.

We are prepared to accept

This gift of a child to raise.

We will share our lives with her,

Help to mold her mind,

Nurture her body,

And enrich her spirit.

We will never betray her trust,

Dampen her hopes, or

Discourage her dreams.

We make this commitment willingly.

We will cherish (our child)

All the days of our lives.

Beautiful, isn't it? Even that part, "our natural child," should be required by parents giving birth to and raising their children. We positively must remember where these precious children came from, that we have all been entrusted with children that are not 100 percent ours - they belong first and foremost to our Father in Heaven. 

I have been given the gift of two wonderful, loving, sweet children to raise. Even I have moments where I am not the parent I could be - and want to be. I think I'm going to put this up in our home somewhere, with one or two tweaks. What a wonderful reminder it would be!

Our children are gifts, temporarily entrusted to us by God. They are a sacred trust. I am very, very grateful for mine.