Call Her Naomi

There is a sweet sequel to my "Crazy Eight" blog post from last fall. She is three weeks old today. We called her Naomi (nay-OH-mee). 

Naomi Grace

7 lbs. 9 oz.

20 inches

March 9, 2018 at 12:45 PM

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments" (Psalm 119:73).

Last July, during the very earliest weeks of my pregnancy with Naomi, I began a couple of blog posts. The first one, which I titled "My Highest Good," was to be a response to one convicting word in a sermon preached in our church by Seminarian M.K. last June. That's right: one word. That word was "highest." In expounding Proverbs 16:9, which was the text of the sermon (if I recall correctly), Sem. K. pointed out that in his counsel God's works the highest good possible in the lives of each of his children. I realized in the course of that sermon that although I confess, "All things work together for good to them that love God," I don't often conceive of the good that He works as my highest good. Wouldn't my highest good include being able to sit through an entire sermon? Or sleeping through through the night? In the earliest weeks of my pregnancy, I was sure God couldn't possibly be working the highest good of my children, either. Wouldn't their highest good include a mother with enough energy to better care for them? Wouldn't the highest good of the little one in my womb include a mother who was exuberant about his or her life, not overcome with anxiety about carrying and caring for another child? 

"Do you know what text comes to my mind when I think about the past 14 years of my life?" I asked my husband. "The one about the earth being shaken, so that only the things that can't be shaken remain." I explained, "With every additional child God gives us, I feel like I'm being shaken harder and harder. I only have time left now for the absolutely necessities." As it turned out, this blog was one of those things that fell away, and I never published the second post I'd begun, either: "Things That Cannot Be Shaken."

Two days ago, I was musing on a phrase from Ephesians 3:20, the one which describes our God as "him that is able to exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think." The day following, yesterday, I came across that text in one of the books I'm reading, Parenting by Paul David Tripp. (Thanks to my sister Sherry for recommending it. :-) While reading that book, I considered for the first time the phrase that immediately follows the one above: "According to the power that worketh in us." What a wonder that measure by which the apostle Paul measures God's almighty power is His work in us! How we sell short the work of His Spirit! Yet through His work in us he accomplishes our highest good: He conforms us to the image of His Son.

I'm thankful that He's continued to work in me, even though most of life is consumed by feeding, clothing, and discipling the eight children that He's given to B.J. and me. In fact, it's through those mundane, repetitive tasks that He strengthens with might by His Spirit my inner man (Eph. 3:16). It's my prayer that you see the power of His work in yourself as well.

And in the process of stripping me of my bitterness, our Father entrusted to B.J. and I a big-eyed, round-faced, sweet little girl. To echo the prayer that our doctor prayed in the hospital, we desire that  this child will be a pleasant, joyful person because she knows Jehovah as her sovereign Father and Jesus Christ as her Savior. That's why we called her Naomi. "Grace" is after Grandma. And I pray that it serves as a reminder to us of the grace we experienced throughout the past nine months, during labor and delivery, and throughout these three postpartum weeks. Grace given through the gifts, time, and meals of others. Grace that not only saves and glorifies, but also sanctifies. Grace that is sufficient for a mom and dad who lack adequate time, wisdom, kindness, and sleep. Grace sufficient for whatever trials you face today, too.

We love you, Naomi. You have already made our lives more pleasant and more joyful.

(Thanks to my mom and sister Bethany for traveling here last week to spend their spring break washing dishes, reading books, playing board games, and flying kites! How we cherish your help and your fellowship!)