Eli Smith

Yesterday, I received my first baby announcement via text messaging.  One of my best friends, Britton Smith and his wife Michelle, had a little boy.  From the very beginning they had planned on doing a natural child birth, and they went to all the special classes for it.  However, little did they know that they were going to end up needing a C-section a few weeks earlier than the due date.  Either way, the baby is crying as it should and I’m so excited for them.

The name “Eli” means “high, ascended” as usually seen in biblical priestly duties, or a form of the word was also used by Jesus while hanging on the cross – “My God.”  This excites me for many reasons, because I know Britton and Michelle’s heart for this child.  More than anything they desire that Eli grow up to offer himself to the holy priesthood. As 1 Peter 2:4-5 says:  “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  I believe Christ followers have a duty to hand over their children to God’s mission, His story.  I trust that Britton and Michelle will continually do this with little Eli.  I leave Eli with this blessing:  “May you be a priest within the priesthood.  May you be a bringer of Shalom.  May you live such a life before all men, that they see your good deeds and glorify “My God” in heaven.

A Genuine Disciple…offers up their children