To My (Biggest) Bundle of Joy

Sweet Baby Michael,

As we welcome you into this world today, our hearts are filled with joy.

From the moment we laid eyes on that sweet round face of yours, we were in love. And that red hair sure is a cherry on top!

Michael Jeffrey Stanley
Born July 13, 2016 at 11:46 a.m.
9 lbs. 15 oz. and 21 inches 

We are savoring each moment with you here in the hospital. I'm pretty sure you've been held more than your two big brothers combined...not out of necessity, but because we know just how fleeting these precious newborn moments are, and we want to soak them up with you.

Your life has already been such a gift to us, Michael. God has used it to bring about much healing and growth within us over the past nine months. We are now slower to fear and quicker to give thanks. We trust less in our own skills and capabilities and depend more fully on God's grace. We dwell less on our day-to-day trials and inconveniences and more on the eternal hope we have in Christ. 

You are an incredible reminder of God's goodness and covenant love towards us, son. And we hope that your name, Michael Jeffrey, will serve as a similar reminder to you of God's unchanging and unfailing character.

Your first name, Michael, means "Who is like God?"

The answer to that question is quite simple.

In Psalm 86, David writes, "There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God."

Michael, we pray that you will come to embrace this great truth...that you will look to God alone for your own hope and salvation and that you will one day stand in awe of Him and all His works. 

Your middle name, Jeffrey, is a tribute to the man God used to lead your daddy to Christ, your Uncle Jeff.

Uncle Jeff is a good brother, a faithful servant, and a godly man, and we pray that these same words would be used to describe you as you grow older.

Michael Jeffrey, you are loved beyond measure. We are honored to be your parents and are so excited to see what God has in store for you.

On this day, the day of your birth, we pray that you might one day be born again to a living hope in Christ Jesus and that you would love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

All my Love,

Your Mama