What
are Godparents?
The
Godparents are generally composed of both a female and male member,
not necessarily from the same couple. However only one Godparent is
actually necessary. One of the Godparents often needs to be a
practicing member of the faith into which the child is being baptized
and they must be sufficiently well-connected to the family of the
child to be able to exercise the responsibilities they undertake in
the service. When an infant is baptized he/she can't answer the
questions for him/herself, so someone needs to answer on his/her
behalf.
Godparents
may be asked to perform ritual functions during the ceremony, such as
holding the child, praying over the child and to make promises for
the child's religious growth. After the ceremony, the role of the
Godparents is to look after the child's religious path.
Godparents
(also called sponsors or proxies) were originally introduced into the
baptism service for this reason. In the history of the church
godparents also promised to bring the child up in the Christian
faith, and took responsibility for this.
This is one of the more common
definitions of a godparent. I never really thought about my
godparents as I grew up. Their names are Bernice and Harry Berth.
They were there for my first communion, they always sent birthday
cards and Christmas cards to me all during my childhood, (sadly I
rarely wrote back) then when I became an adult I lost all contact
with them. Mom and Dad would bring them up once and awhile telling
me they asked about me. All I knew about them was that Harold K.
Berth owned a lot of George Webb hamburger stands in the Milwaukee
area and that he served with dad in Korea. Bert – Benice Berth was
Harold's wife. After doing a little research I learned a little more
about Harry. Sadly Harry passed away in 2008, a year after my mom.
Harry was classmate of my parents at Messmer High; he was also a war
buddy of my dad's. Harry was quite the man on campus acolyte, class
officer etc. Because I don't know Bert's maiden name, I still don't
know much about her. What I do know is that Bert is a very loyal
friend to the end. Both she and Harry made it to my mom's funeral –
only Bert to my dad's. Bert was late to my dad's because she got
lost, this is when it hit me as to what a godparent is. It was
important to Bert to see me, pay her respects to my dad, and give
back a photo Harry had of dad and Bill Borman, right after they had
been MIA behind enemy lines in Korea for 3 days. When Bert had
caught up to us at the gravesite, it hit what a godparent and a
friend is. I will never forget Harry or Bert. Bert is getting old
now, I write her and send her cards on holidays as she did for me
when I needed and didn't know it. I'm not sure if she gets them, but
I will continue to do so as long as I can.
I had the opportunity to be a godparent
once. I failed miserably. I was too young and immature. My best
friend at the ime choose me chosen for all the wrong reasons.
Unfortunityly I didn't really understand what was being asked of me.
My friend thought this would be a good way to keep me and my
boyfriend at the time togehter, because we were on the verge of
breaking up. By the time I understood what I needed to do, I had
lost all contact with my godson and his mother. I'd like to try and
mend bridges, but I'm not even sure where they live. I was not there
when my godson needed me most. I would have to say this is the one
reget I have in my life.
