As I held little baby Aurora up to the church congregation she waved and smile to everyone. It was a beautiful moment and brought smiles in return.

And this little girl is a miracle. Her Mum is a friend of the family and our paths crossed a year or so ago in Worcestershire Royal. Aurora was born prematurely and spent some time on the neonatal intensive care unit for the first few days of her life.

But she is a fighter, and the staff are miracle workers. And eventually she was discharged to a post-natal ward.

I made a point of going every day, ostensibly to see how Mum was but really to have cuddles with “Rory”. I gave her milk through a little syringe and tube, and watched her get stronger and stronger.

And on that Sunday, there I was in a Baptist church in Wolverhampton taking part in her Dedication Service.

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Dedication is our churches' version of christening in the Church of England, Together we ask God to bless the child. The parents make promises to nurture and love them; and the church stands, as part of this baby’s new family, to commit themselves to caring for this lovely family.

After all, parenting is both a joyful and onerous task and it is good to have friends who can help, support and advise us.

All of this came to mind on Friday, when in the hospital’s main entrance, we were recognising World Prematurity Day. And standing around the displays, and cakes, and tombola (where I won and inflatable guitar), were parents with their babies.

Many of these had been born prematurely and had been nursed by the amazing NICU staff.

And there they were, like little Rory, thriving and growing and being nurtured and loved. It was a beautiful sight and made me think back to the Dedication and blessing.

“Aurora, may God bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May God look kindly on you and give you his peace.”

A prayer for my little “adopted” granddaughter and for all children.