Seventeen years ago today, my niece was born. As I wished her a Happy Birthday, I thought of the story of her name.
When it was discovered that it would be a girl, my brother informed the family that her name was to be Alyssa Marie. From that day on, she became Alyssa. Her mother and I were pregnant at the same time but my son was born two months earlier. He didn't have a name yet but everybody knew the girl would be Alyssa Marie.
One month before she was born, they received a phone call that her mother's cousin and maid of honor Kimberly Salinas had been killed by a drunk driver. Her dear friend and bridesmaid, Hope, also in the vehicle was severely injured. It was tragic.
Kimberly Salinas was the only daughter in her family and her parents grieved her deeply. It was a great loss to everyone and a very sad funeral. To add to the grief, Kimberly's birthday would have been one month later. My brother and his family had a tough journey ahead with his wife eight months pregnant.
The following month, Alyssa Marie was born. She was the most beautiful child [all my nieces are] I'd ever seen. I toted my own child to the nursery window where my brother stood in tears. I simply said "Alyssa Marie is beautiful." To my surprise, he whispered "Her name is Kimberly Hope."
As only God could have orchestrated, our Kimberly Hope was born on Kimberly Salinas' birthday...today. Sometimes there just isn't an explaination but we knew this...there was no more Alyssa Marie, she was now Kimberly Hope. Everytime we mention her name, everytime there is a birthday celebration, we remember Kimberly and Hope.
This reminded me of a story where a son was born and it was decided he would be named after his father. The child's mother intervened and said "No-His name shall be John" The tradition was that the boy would be named after the father or a relative and no one existed with this name. Everyone expected that the child's name would be Zechariah.
God had a different plan. This child born to Elizabeth and Zechariah was to be called a prophet of the Most High and would go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him [Luke 1:76]. He would later be known as John the Baptist who prepared the way for our Savior.
Some things can not be explained in our human sense. I can only imagine how my brother felt as he was making that drive to the hospital on May 4th! Kimberly Salinas' parents also went to the hospital to welcome Kimberly Hope into the world on their daughter's birthday only weeks after her death.
I watched her through the window having made her entrance into this world. In looking at her, I knew "There was Hope."
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and he wrote "His name is John." Immediately, his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed and he began to speak, praising God. The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking "What then is this child going to be for the Lord's hand was with him. Luke 1:62-66
Happy Birthday Kimberly Hope!
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