We've named our baby Torey.
Now I had brought up naming the baby with Laura several days ago and she simply left the room. It was too painful. So I've been waiting and praying. We were not far enough along to know the sex of the baby, so there was also some uneasiness at naming our baby due to that ignorance. It surprised me, therefore, when I came home from my HOSEA class at church on Tuesday night and she told me that she was thinking about naming the baby Victoria, a name we had tossed around for years.
A little background information: Probably ten years ago we heard a radio program about a little girl named Victoria (Torey) who was dying of cancer. She so impressed us that we fell in love with the name. Now, I also grew up knowing a Torey, and because it's such an unusual name, I was a little hesitant about using it. But as far as I know the Torey I know is not an axe-murderer.
When she mentioned the name, I began grinning and immediately knew it was the right name for our littlest girl. Let me tell you why.
When I went to church that night, I arrived early and so I entered the sanctuary and prayed for a few moments before the Blessed Sacrament. I asked the Lord to give us peace about a name since we did not know the sex of the baby.
Immediately that prayer came to mind.
But that's not the only reason I was smiling. Earlier that same day, I was outside with the kids. I was on the laptop while they were playing and I overheard the yellow-haired child playing with her sister Anna. Anna was a horse, and Avery was comforting her: Avery said, "It's okay, Torey. It's okay." Now the yellow-haired child, as far as I know, has never heard the name Torey before. We did watch Barbie Mermaidia recently, and one of the characters was named Nori, but that is as close as I can get. So, quite honestly, when she said "Torey," it surprised me. (My wife, by the way, didn't hear this exchange and had never heard Avery use the name Torey on that day or ever before. And I had not mentioned this story to her until she suggested the name.)
After hearing Avery use the name, after praying specifically for peace about a name and gender, and after my wife suggested the same name, we were both a little giddy with the Lord's guidance in the matter and thankful for His presence with us.
We believe our baby is a little girl. And we have named her Victoria Hope Lyons.
We love you, Torey.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
4 comments:
You are dealing with your pain and loss very well.
I wish you and Laura comfort as you move forward always with a place in your hearts for little Torey.
God bless you.
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We watched 24 and Lost. I also watched the season ender for CSI. Lost has me more lost than ever!!
Torey Hope Lyons, one day in Parousia, we'll sit on a lovely porch swing together and chat.
Scott. I didn't post my condolences earlier because I'm always at a loss for appropriate words, but I am sorry for your loss and your pain -- you and Laura.
I've had two miscarriages, my twin brother was killed on a bicycle when we were 6 years old and my first husband died from mulitiple sclerosis 13 years ago. I have looked death in the face.
I came to a conclusion that it is WE humans who've actually named "death". Though it's a part of reality -- and something that should be named -- it's not part of "R"eality. God is Life and He came so that we might HAVE Life and HAVE it abundantly.
My babies haven't died, my brother or my husband. They have entered further into Life. We just can't see them anymore -- just as we couldn't see them before they were "born" -- they weren't "dead" then either! -- they were known to God all along...what could be more ALIVE than that?
This is all said to you to help you ascertain more firmly, as I do, that you and Laura and your whole family will INDEED meet and hold your child and feel the joy and love immeasureably more than the sadness you feel at this moment.
Of this I am certain.
May God comfort you in this time of sadness.
Alexa
Alexa, thank you so much for sharing a part of your story with me. It is a comfort.
Jamie and True, thank you both.
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