Think back to when you were a child ... do you remember the story of Hannah when she presented baby Samuel to God. Well, in case you forgot - Hannah had been barren, but even though she was she never stopped asking God for a child and then it happened, God granted Hannah her hearts desire and blessed her with a son who she named Samuel.

Well, Hannah did something incredible - instead of keeping Samuel for herself, she gave him back to God and presented him as a young boy at the Temple for God to use. That's exactly what baby dedication is ... it is when you as parents firstly thank God for blessing you with a child, then you present that baby back to God - who gave him/her to you in the first place. Fortunately, it isn't a literal presentation of your child to the Temple or the church that takes place when you dedicate you baby, but rather it is a covenant that you as parents make with God to raise that child as a Christian.

Literally, it means promising God that you will teach your child about Him, that you will take your child to church rather than to tell your children about church, it means teaching by example rather than by speech. It is to covenant (ie to promise) God that you will do your best as a parent. As I always say - to promise me something and to break that promise is one thing, but to promise God something and then to break that promise is an entirely different thing. So, as Hannah did present your 'Samuel' back to God - in thanks that it was He who gave him/her to you in the first place.