Seashell
Hand your child the seashell.
Say:
Hold the seashell. Explore the ridges on one side.
Explore the smooth inside.
Notice how the shell seems to make a little bowl.
A shell is a symbol that reminds us of baptism. Many early baptisms were done near lakes, rivers, seashores. A shell would be used to pour water over the head of the one being baptized.
When someone is baptized, that person is marked as a child of God. God loves that person very much.
Listen to the story of the Baptism of Jesus, found in the Gospel of Mark –
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being opened and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Now let’s sit in silence. Hold the shell in your hand. Run your thumb along the ridges and wonder about baptism and how you are a child of God. Know that God is pleased with you.
[After a few moments of silence, pray]
Prayer:
Loving God,
We are grateful to be your children.
Because of you we know
We will always be loved.
Amen.
[The seashell can now go in the box.]