WELCOMING OUR
NEW BABY GIRL
PERPETUA FELICITAS
JOHNSON
Perpetua,
born on 16 September at 0820, weighed in at 3.9kg (8.6 lbs...yes, a big baby)
and has very good lungs and doesn't look overly much like an alien.
Why
the weird name?
Okay,
here's the reasoning behind the arcane naming:
Not only
because our last name Johnson is a very common name, but chiefly because we feel
that names should matter, we have chosen the names of two early Christian
martyrs, Vibia Perpetua and her handmaiden Felicitas, who, at a time when it was
illegal to profess faith in Christ, chose not to deny their Lord. Upon the pain
of death, they chose their Savior over any of the comforts of this world and
suffered martyrdom in the Roman arena.
The Puritans often named
their children after the cardinal virtues such as Patience, Constance, Charity,
and so we, too, have chosen a name which will constantly remind our daughter of
the meaning of true nobility.
Our first son we gave
the name Noah, a preacher of righteousness who followed God despite the whole
world going astray. Our daughter we named Alethea, the Greek word for "truth"
found in the New Testament. Noah and Alethea both gave the names "Rainbow" and
"Sunshine" to the two miscarriages that did not see the light of earthly day but
woke up only to the light of heaven. Now. we welcome Perpetua Felicitas Johnson.
In an age where honor matters little and many will sell their good name
for material comfort, the noble example of these dignified women, who sacrificed
all for the glory of God, is a needed reminder to us. Whereas the record of
human history is a history of human cruelty and violence, men killing others for
mere material gain, may the noble example of Perpetua and Felicitas provide a
constant reminder to our daughter concerning the ideals of true dignity and
Christian sacrifice.
'In this trial what God determines will take place.
We are not in our own keeping, but in God's.'
- Perpetua's
diary
-
Hebrews 11
Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen...
For they that say such things declare
plainly that they seek a country...they desire a better country, that is, an
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city.
... By faith Moses, when he was come to years,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
...Women
received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others
had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they
wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the
promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect.
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