I was thinking that you might all be interested in how we chose Lilia’s name. The story of her name goes back over a year ago to a Bible study that I was in at Kingswood United Methodist Church. As part of the study, we read the Sermon on the Mount in one sitting. As I read this passage of Scripture, my heart was quickened as when I got to the part beginning at Matthew 6:28. It says, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the filed, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” This passage brought tears to my eyes as I thought about women and girls, in particular, and how God sees them as so beautiful. And, so many times, they devalue themselves and the perfect beauty that God has given them. In that moment, I thought that if I ever had a girl, I would like her name to come from this passage.
Several months later, I was sitting in small group at our home in Clovis. One of the members of the group spoke up at the very end of our time and said that he felt moved to read a Scripture to the group. He read this Scripture from Matthew 6. Again, I felt the Spirit move in my heart, and I knew in that moment that I was pregnant. We had not been expecting to have another baby yet, and I had no real reason to believe that we were; but I knew right then that I was going to have a baby!
I then began brainstorming names that might come from this passage. I looked up several names and meanings online. I looked up the name Lilia, and the first website that popped up gave a Hebrew meaning for this name: “What belongs to me, belongs to God.” Tears came to my eyes as I read this meaning. This seemed like the perfect word to speak over a child. Several months later, Josh and I realized how close to Easter our baby girl would be born. We both felt like Lilia was the perfect name for this precious Easter blessing!
Lilia’s middle name is Mercy. Mercy is an English name meaning compassion. Compassion from the Lord is a gift I deeply desire for my little girl. It is a virtue and a gift that means a great deal to me in my walk with God and in how I see the world around me. Compassion for the poor, the hurting, and the least of these is something I want for both of my children. Furthermore, I believe that God has shown us amazing mercy in the past months as we moved across the country to a new life, with the unexpected addition of a baby girl into our lives. We do praise God for this perfect gift of Lilia Mercy McCallister into our family. I feel certain that God has beautiful plans for her – her arrival into our lives & her special name were His idea. And that is only the beginning…
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1:17-18
4 comments:
I loved the name the moment I heard it. Thank you Lilia, for helping us welcome Easter this year as we welcome you.
That's such a beautiful story of God tugging at your heart, Candace. Thank you so much for sharing with everyone.
I pray you four are well and happy. Now that I know about your blog, I plan to keep myself more frequently posted about your goings on and the concerns of your hearts, so I can pray with you. Until now, I relied on updates from our friend, Rhonda, and Brad, too.
Much love,
Jayla (Jason and Kayla, as we're fondly known by many)
What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing.
what a powerful name and powerful testimony of God's goodness! we are praising HIM with you for this sweet new little addition - indeed a miracle and blessing from HIM!
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