He named them Gift of God and
Little Lamb of God because they
were God’s and he was granted
stewardship of them for only a few
years, hopefully enough time for
them to see themselves as gifts
and lambs of God, which apparently
was sufficient because they have
really good self-esteem, a realistic
view of themselves and the fortitude
to have seen them through the un-
timely, tragic death of their mother.
And then he received a gift not for
having been a good steward because
that wouldn’t have been a gift but
simply because…. The Christ Carrier
came into his life just when he
needed care and carrying and he
calls her Christi and he calls his
children Matthew and Rachel. One
James or One Who Protects came
with the Christ Carrier and he
stood by and protected his mother
when she needed it as she protected
him. And so he gives thanks for
the providential love of God — for
his family, for Christi, Matthew,
Rachel and James. And that’s what’s
in a name.