Nicola Harrison's feelings on becoming a godmother for the fourth time...
"I was dead chuffed and flattered that two
sensible adults as Nick and Annie should both want me to play such
an important part in Louis, their first son's life, especially when
there are so many better posher, richer, holier and titled people to
choose from." According to Annie "it's not about status and it isn't
about expensive gifts and silver spoons" they didn't want a godparent
who turns up on the day
with a whopping great present and then vanishes without trace.
Annie was adamant she was looking for
certain qualities of heart and spirit and commitment. "Well I've got
the committment bit even if it isn't of the christian variety I do
have to admit I'm not a practising christian, in fact I'm not a
christian at all - more of a pagan really, a kind of green tinged
animalist who believes in one holy spirit as in the spirit of all
living things. Although I like churches and find them beautiful I
like trees even more. So naturally enough I expressed doubts in the
religious role of being a godmother - was I really what they're
looking for?" I asked Annie, "surely you need someone a bit more
churchy", she laughed and responded "we know you'll love Louis and
stand by him and tell him crazy stories and make him laugh and
that's what we want".
So last sunday in church I stood before
god
and
repented my sins and renounced evil and affirmed Louis' passing from darkness to light.
You only have to look at the title
"Godmother" to realise how important it is, the name combines two of
of the most important words in our language, a relationship
determined not by blood but responsibility - so as we raised our
glasses I promised to see my godson as much as possible and become a
special kind of "fairy godmother", someone who will dance, sing and
make up poems in other words a "shameless old heathen" like me.
