Hello everyone welcome to Noah’s naming ceremony, for many many years now people have be having both formal and informal occasions to celebrate the birth of their children and welcome them into the world. The one thing they all have in common is that the ceremony is always accompanied with good food, good drink and good friends and a combination of great sincerity and great joy.
In today’s naming ceremony we will consider our responsibilities towards Noah and all the children among us.
Kicking things off is Zoë:
Bringing Noah into this world was the most privileged and amazing thing I have ever done and it puts a big responsibility on my shoulders. Noah, you will depend on me. The way I look after you, care for you and love you will play a part in how you grow up and how your life will be shaped in future years. I promise to do all I can to secure your confidence, learning and strength and to try and return all the happiness you brings me.
Mo:
What does a Father say to his son on such occasions, I guess it is about promises, word of wisdom and intentions about what I am going to teach you?
I am not always going to be there when you fall over but hopefully I can teach you to be brave and have the resilience and be able to pick your self and get stuck back in.
I am not going to be able to teach you about girls, as I have only pulled one, your mother, but hopefully I can teach you about being honest and true to yourself… the ladies love that
I am not going to be able to teach you to read proper, but I can hopefully teach you about the values and fun of learning.
I am not always going to be able say the right thing when you come to me asking for
words of wisdom or the meaning of life, but in those situations I hope you remember this, the meaning of life is to give and receive love, the rest is just gravy, if you remember that, you’ll do just fine.
We have picked as the guardians Joel, Alun and Kate, why on earth did we pick these three?
Joel. you have been a rock for me and Zoe and always been there with us through everything we have done, we would like you to always be there for Noah in the same way, give him the support and guidance you have given us. Also with all the stuff you know about me and Zoe we want you on the inside where we can keep an eye on you.
Alun and Kate, we have chosen you because together you embody the spirit of the life we want to give Noah, whenever we are with you there is always an atmosphere of adventure, a sense of real love and caring and plenty of laughs. Also it is pretty obvious that Alun is punching way above his weight by getting married to Kate so we want some of this jammy luck to rub off on Noah
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Joel do you wanna say something
I was deaply moved when Zoë and Maurice asked me to be a sponsor for Noah and I
take the responsibility very seriously.
Lots of musing and chatting with Mo and Zo formulated my idea that I should always try to guide rather than advise and perhaps just set a good example.
My position outside the family affords some flexibility, on both sides, in language and choices but I believe we share the same moral compass and values.
To this end, I started jotting down some thoughts, mainly drawing on the words of people far wiser than me. Sort of their own accord, my writings formulated a letter – so here goes.
Dear Noah,
One of the most useful things I learnt, from the school your Dad and I attended was the motto: “Esse quam videri” – To be rather than to seem to be.
As I have grown older, I have learnt the real value of honesty and integrity and the importance of standing for what you believe in.
The latin writer Publilius Syrus advises us that “No-one knows what he can do until he tries” and, perhaps less eloquently, the chemist James Conant said “Behold the turtle: he only makes progress when he sticks his neck out”.
Your teachers, elders and indeed your parents will encourage you to work hard, study and learn. I would certainly agree! But always keep in mind the thoughts of one of the greatest scientists ever, “imagination is more important than knowledge” – Einstein. And just when you think you’ve got life licked, remember
Michelangelo’s favourite saying “Ancora imparo” – I’m always learning.
One day, a long way from now, life will get tough but don’t be discouraged – everyone who gets where he is, has been where he was.
A poem by Goethe guides us when things get tough:
We must not hope to be mowers,
And to gather the ripe gold ears.
Unless we first have been sowers,
And watered the furrows with tears.
It is not just as we take it,
This mystical world of ours.
Life’s field will yield as we make it;
A harvest of thorns or of flowers.
But that’s for another day, and ahead of you is lots of fun. Your journey through life should not be a move from playtime to work so always try to hold joy in your heart and keep these famous words in the back of your mind: “I spent a lot of money on women and drink, the rest I just squandered” – George Best!
To finish, always respect your parents, but if you ever hear them bemoaning the youth of today, read them this quote; “Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, rush their food and tyrannise their teachers” And then tell them that Socrates wrote that in 420 BC, 2500 years ago, nothing changes.
Enjoy yourself Noah,
Love your Parents, friends and Life
Joel.
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Alun and Kate made a blanket for Noah and wrote a poem:
A hug,
A helping hand,
A thoughtful word,
A cherished man.
We will watch proudly,
Through all of your years,
Through laughter, smiling,
And help through the tears.
Be positive and brave in the paths you take,
Have confidence and pride in the decisions you make.
Good Luck Noah, in all that you do,
And remember, that we are here for you.
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Now for the Naming bit, A name once given will be associated forever with a face, a voice, a laugh and a spirit. The Name NOAH will be spoken, whispered, shouted, cried, sung, typed and written, thousands of times by friends, family teachers, doctors, colleagues, lovers, strangers and maybe by children and grandchildren. It will define his identity.
Your name is Noah William Wheeler; we all wish you happiness and fulfilment in your life.
