The stats:
He was born at 11:25pm on May 7, 2014.
(Because he wanted to share a birthday with his big sister!)
His birth weight was 8 lbs. 12 oz.
He is 21 inches long.
We praise God for an amazing natural childbirth and that both mommy and baby are healthy and doing incredibly well. We could not have asked for a better experience, and we are so glad that you have come to join us, Isaiah!
 |
| Isaiah had to spend some time in NICU, but was a trooper and is doing great! |
 |
| Here's lookin' at you, kid... |
 |
| Happy but bleary-eyed around 2:30am on May 8th. |
Let's start with his first name: Isaiah. When bringing words/names into English from Hebrew, things don't always transfer over in an equivalent manner. For example, in Hebrew, the name reads:
יְשַׁעְיָהוּ
The pronunciation: yee-shah-YAH-huu (think English: "who")
The Hebrew word, then, is not too far from our English version, but when you see the name in its Hebrew form, we begin to see how cool Hebrew names are.
Though many do not realize this, all the "names" we know from the Old Testament (Abraham, Moses, Jacob, etc.) do not function in the way most modern cultures use names. Rather than simply identifying and "naming" a particular person/place, Hebrew names are actually short sentences when translated into English.
For Isaiah, the name is comprised of two parts: yee-shah and yah-huu.
Yee-shah is based on a root that means "to save" or "to deliver." If I wrote "Yeshua" (the alternate spelling of Jesus' name), do you see the connection? They both have this yod-shin-ayin (ישע) root.
YAH-huu is a shortened form of the divine Name. (I could explain this here but it would be rather long.) You'll just have to trust me (or send me an email so I can write a page of explanation). :)
Put the two parts together and we get "Salvation/Deliverance is the LORD'S" or "The LORD saves/delivers/rescues."
 |
| Welcome, little boy! |
 |
| I helped make this. -Zac |
 |
| A very proud (and exhausted) Lola. |
Theological Thoughts from Larissa:
When Christians hear the word "salvation," we often immediately jump to the salvation granted by Jesus Christ through his work on the cross - a salvation that is present (we are saved) but mostly understood in a future sense in regard to our ultimate salvation from eternal punishment to eternal life with God. However, the Bible tells us that while this is an essential part of our understanding of salvation, there is more. Our God is a God who saves both in the present and in the future, in many times and many ways. Our God saves us from our troubles, delivers us from our fears, heals us of our brokenness and bring peace into our violent world. This shalom-peace of God is the state of wholeness, of all things being made right - as they were created to be. We see God's shalom entering into the world in all His acts of salvation and deliverance, and we hold onto the hope and promise that one day, all things will be made whole. Our God is a God who saves.
 |
| Proud "parents" with their adorable children. Zoë really enjoyed her present from Isaiah - a life-like baby doll to take care of! |
 |
| And then three became four. |
1) It is also a Hebrew name/phrase (just like Isaiah).
2) It was the middle name of my grandfather, Henry Benjamin Poppen.
Quick note about #1 - the Hebrew version is:
בִנְיָמִין
Pronunciation: bin-yah-MEEEN.
Though there's not much written about this name in dictionaries/lexical aids, we can glean something important from its composition. When translated, it means something like "son of the right hand" or "son of good fortune." There's a lot of significance tied to the right hand in the Old Testament (and even in the New Testament). The right hand was a sign of power and strength. This is why Christ, the ruling head of the world, is "seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty..." (per the Apostles' Creed).
Regarding the second point, we wanted to honor my late grandfather since little Isaiah is the first Poppen who will carry on the namesake. Though this child entered the world three years after Henry's death, I am quite sure that many of his traits will live on through Isaiah.
 |
| A very proud Didi. |
 |
| Uncle Corby, Aunt Mary and the baby cousins! |
 |
| How precious new life is. |
 |
| And the proud mothers. Beautiful all around! |
Welcome to the world, little Isaiah Benjamin.
May you come to know this God who saves and come to find Him as your rock and salvation. May you grow into your identity as a child of God, a "son of the right hand," given this place of honor and power not because of anything you have done or will do, but because the King is your Father in Heaven and you are His beloved child.
 |
| Isaiah didn't want to leave the hospital, apparently... |
 |
| Ready to go home and start this new adventure! |
No comments:
Post a Comment