Yesterday Steve and I were asked to be Godparents to one of my best friend's newborn son. Newborn, as in he was barely pushed out into the world mere hours prior. It was completely unexpected. We were so honored. And totally humbled. Like, you really think we deserve it? Because it's such a privilege to be a Godparent to some one's child.

But I didn't always think this way.

The meaning of Godparent is different for everyone; each Godparent assumes the role differently. Some choose Godparents that will help guide their child on their life and/or spiritual journey. Others think that their role as Godparent is to be a guardian in case something happens to the parents. Still others think: more Godparents, more presents. In the Filipino culture it is joked that we like to choose half a dozen sets of Godparents per kid. And though that's a silly stereotype, it's kind of an exaggerated truth for some of us.

I admit, when X was baptized I had like six or so Godparents. The fact that I can't remember the exact number is telling of how blase I was about it. I chose Godparents with the single expectation that one of them would take X in if something happened to us. We had a little ceremony, a little party, and that was that. And when I was asked to be a Godparent to my friends' kids, I had the same mentality.

It wasn't until the birth of my daughter fourteen years later that I began to think differently. When we chose her Godparents, we wanted someone who shared the same values as us, who would really build a relationship with her, who we would completely trust with Bugaboo in case something really did happen to us one day. So we chose a couple who we admired and respected and loved as our own family.

So now that we've been asked to be Godparents again, I want to be all the things for him that I hope Bugaboo's Godparents will be for her. Not only that, but I want to be all these things to my other Godchildren as well. Godchildren who I regretfully haven't been these things to for far too long. But I can start now.

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