December 20
Bible Verses Covered
Devotion: We, like Elizabeth in this passage, chose to announce the names of our children after their births rather than seeking input and discussing our thought processes with our loved ones. We also received unfiltered reactions to the names we chose from those close to us, most notably from my husband's great aunt (who was refreshingly honest in her later years). When we told her the name of our oldest child, she asked, “What kind of name is that!?”
This passage also speaks to the potential, promise and hope of every new life. As John is named, his father regains the ability to speak. The neighbors asked, “What then is this child going to be?” That is a fundamental question for every child. As parents, we chose names for our children that are personally meaningful and represent values that we hope they share in their lives. Naming our children is one of the first steps that we took in our ongoing journey to nurture them in a way that enables God’s love and light to shine through them. As a parent, this passage reminds us that we need to be nurturing not only our children, but all children.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of children and give us the awareness, strength and patience to lovingly nurture all of your children.
Devotion: We, like Elizabeth in this passage, chose to announce the names of our children after their births rather than seeking input and discussing our thought processes with our loved ones. We also received unfiltered reactions to the names we chose from those close to us, most notably from my husband's great aunt (who was refreshingly honest in her later years). When we told her the name of our oldest child, she asked, “What kind of name is that!?”
This passage also speaks to the potential, promise and hope of every new life. As John is named, his father regains the ability to speak. The neighbors asked, “What then is this child going to be?” That is a fundamental question for every child. As parents, we chose names for our children that are personally meaningful and represent values that we hope they share in their lives. Naming our children is one of the first steps that we took in our ongoing journey to nurture them in a way that enables God’s love and light to shine through them. As a parent, this passage reminds us that we need to be nurturing not only our children, but all children.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of children and give us the awareness, strength and patience to lovingly nurture all of your children.