Luke 2:21-22

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

Raising or teaching children is an awesome responsibility that has its challenges and rewards.  Think of it, God has given some of us the responsibility of caring for a living being who is created in his image. When we offer our children to God we are acknowledging that we are stewards, not owners.  We are also acknowledging that one day we will stand before God and answer for how we brought them up. Truly, our children are a great gift from God and the enormity of the task should sober us.  In speaking of Our Lady, Pope John Paul II comments, “In Mary, who offers her Son in the Temple to the heavenly Father, there is the joy drenched with anxiety, typical of parents and teachers for their children or pupils”  (Angelus: 10/23/83).  If you experience a bit of anxiety about raising your children, look to Our Lady, she has been there and she can assist you with her prayers.