Viral photo shows new father kneeling in prayer after newborn son’s birth

New father Victor Calmon witnessed the birth of his first child, Ivan, in July 2018 at age 33. During the experience, he was so overwhelmed and overcome with emotion at the sheer weight of being entrusted to raise this new little life that in a spontaneous act, he knelt in prayer near his newborn son. Jana Brasil Photography captured that moment, and it has gone viral.

In his Instagram post, Calmon states that he “did not imagine that such a simple gesture” would draw so much attention:

According to Aleteia.org, Calmon explained what he was thinking at the time of his newborn son’s birth — and it is profoundly powerful:

I saw myself at the center of a complicated situation, you know, and everything was new to me, and incredible fear came over me. Now, I wouldn’t be worrying just about me anymore; I had this new life to take care of. So I got over my embarrassment and just knelt down and talked to God. I asked him to help me mature, to become a better man, a good father, a good husband, and to increase my desire to grow and work, so that my child might not lack anything.

Calmon also posted a photo of their new family together at Ivan’s birth. His post reads (roughly, when translated from Portuguese), “That moment the chip falls, the hand shakes and you really discover the reason for being in this world. I ask God, my wife, I say I love you, and to my son, I say welcome!”

Aleteia quotes Calmon as saying, “Besides working, whenever I can, I help my wife Luana to bathe Ivan and change his diapers. I don’t have time for myself anymore. But I remember it’s all worth it when I come home and I see Ivan’s smile.”

In another Instagram post, he writes, “God is just, and at the right time he gave me everything I ever dreamed!”