For Georgia
It is official: I am now a godmother.
This is not a role I enter into lightly. In my life my godfamily has been as integral as my biological family.
I hear you wondering, “why is she using the term “godfamily”? That is not a thing.”
Oh, but it is.
Once upon a time my mom (before she was my mom) was a counselor at a summer camp. There she met a fellow counselor named Deb. They had many adventures which included piercing each others’ ears, smoking (an appallingly shocking choice to their future children), and, weirdly, passing out prunes (which I’ve never quite understood). They became lifelong best friends.
Years later my mom (who still wasn’t my mom yet, but at this point became my sister’s mom) had a baby. With the arrival of my sister, my mom and my dad (also not technically my dad yet at this moment in the story, but you get it), being religious folk, decided to have my sister baptized and elected as her godmother Mom’s best friend, Deb. Conveniently they also really liked Deb’s husband, Jeff, so he became Meredith’s godfather. Deb and Jeff became Aunt Deb and Uncle Jeff, godparents extraordinaire.
About a year and a half later Aunt Deb had a baby. When it came to selecting godparents for their daughter, Aunt Deb and Uncle Jeff decided that my sister’s parents were worthy of the role. Thus they became Aunt Rachel and Uncle Mike to young Kaitlyn.
Exactly seven months after Kaitlyn was born, I was born (and now it is safe to refer to both of my parents as my parents because, at this point in the story, they were, in fact, my parents). At the time of my baptism Aunt Deb and Uncle Jeff once again stood up beside my mom and dad and accepted the mission to serve as godparents to yet another McKay child (me, in case you’re confused).
And so it naturally was that in the following years when Aunt Deb gave birth to Christopher and then to Kimberly, each child was baptized with my mom and my dad serving as godparents.
There, now you see what I mean by godfamily: two couples, five children between them, all bound together by the godparent/godchild relationship. Aunt Deb and Uncle Jeff’s children are my godsiblings; Meredith and I are their godsisters. It is totally a real thing and we collectively thank you not to question it.
Aunt Deb and Uncle Jeff are as much my family as my biological family. I could not possibly list all of the ways they have influenced me nor all of the memories I have with them. They have been a reliable and constant presence in my life. The same can be said for my biological family who are steadfast and supportive and lovely. But there is just something different about godparents. These relationships were not biologically predetermined, but grown out of deep friendships between parents and godparents, solidified by promises made beside a baptismal font. My godparents did not have to love me, they chose to love me. I have always known that with them I am safe and I can go to them with anything. I can rely on them to lend an ear, to be truthful, and to share their honest opinions and advice.
Georgia is my goddaughter. Since before she was born I’ve spent a lot of time wondering what kind of wisdom I want to pass on to her as her godparent. Her mother is a pastor, so she’s pretty much got the learning about Jesus thing covered. But I can help Georgia learn about being a pastor’s kid: give her tips and tricks, listen when she’s tired of it, help her figure out how to navigate the whole experience. I am also ready and willing to teach her any crafty skill she may want to learn (as long as it is either cross stitch, knitting, or crocheting since those are the three I know how to do). We can discuss the intricacies of Harry Potter, watch the delightful 80s and 90s movies I adore, and then discuss how they are problematic in the modern day. I remain hopeful that Georgia will like cake (unlike her mother) so that we can go on cupcake dates to a bakery, just the two of us. If not that, I hope that we find something special to share that is unique to just us.
There are so many things I want her to know: that she matters, she deserves a place in the world, that she is loved beyond measure. But more than anything, more than any single piece of wisdom I can give to Georgia, I can give her my presence. I can be constant and reliable and there. On call, as needed, even if not needed, I will be there. To love her and support her and help her to know that she is safe with me, no matter what. Just as my godparents are for me, I want to be for her.
They say that blood is thicker than water, but I wonder at the waters of baptism and the strength of those promises made beside a baptismal font.
