Mommy Loves the Bean

I don't know how he came to be the Bean. Maybe because, unlike his son, he was a long, skinny string bean of a baby; not an extra ounce of fat on him his whole life. I only know that for years and years now he has been Beanie to us. When he got to be about twelve, and really cool-- the way only twelve year olds can be-- he became Beanie Dude. And he was always my Beanie Guy.

I found his name in a Baby Name Book at a book store in Ayer, Massachusetts. It was 1984 and the two Best Names for your boy that year were Jason and Joshua. Think about it. How many Jasons and Joshuas do you know who are in their twenties? Well, as I considered those two names, Lo and Behold, between the two of them was a fresh, exotic name: Jordan. Ah. Jordan Ray... yes, it had a certain flair to it, yet also a wholesomeness that would befit the family name. Jordan it was to be. If it was a girl. Emily was already a shoo-in, but more on that later.

Those were the "good old days" when you were left in suspense until the moment of delivery: "It's a .... well, it's a BOY! How about that!" And the moment was filled with this wonder and relief to finally know what it was you'd been blessed with. I don't begrudge anyone finding out ahead of time what they're having, I just think NOT knowing has it's charms. Of course my darling daughter (in-law) Dianna knew it should be that way too, and did not give in to the pressures of today's instant-gratification society and find out what she was having. Have I mentioned she's my Best Friend? Hmmm?

So this little guy comes into our lives and is the center of attention... yet never in a bad way. His pediatrician, when he was six months old, called him a "sociable little beastie" and, like Mary, I pondered it in my heart and knew it to be true. His blue eyes were always looking for merriment and adventure. He loved to smile and laugh. My dad, his Papa, would balance him on the palm of his hand at about three months, and parade him through the mall. Jordan was all smiles, and people would ooh and ahh and come up and talk to this little puppet-baby who looked for all the world like Joy incarnate. He loved to laugh. When he was 13-months he fished a used Q-tip out of the bathroom garbage, stuck it in his ear, and proudly pronounced, "Ta-DAH!" with arms outspread, and a smile that eclipsed the sun. It was my first hint at what lay ahead: Pure Happiness.

He was a little guy that loved to please. He loved to love. He loved to serve. I still have the sticky note that he brought on my coffee cup (he turned the pot on for me, poured the cup, and delivered it to my bedside on a school morning in first grade!) that says, 'I (heart) Mommy'. He was the sweetest Little Man. Always a gentleman. Always a servant. As he grew, and our family devoted itself to God, he was as passionate for God as he'd been for anything else in his life. Mission work became his passion, and serving God on the homefront was its own challenge for him.

We began praying for his future wife when he was about eight. I remember telling him, "There's a little girl out there somewhere that God's already chosen for you! Let's pray for her, and ask God to bless her life right now!" And this little guy, who had no interest in girls, listened as we prayed for not only salvation, protection, and purity for Dianna, but also the little details: That she would love her family, that she would desire purity, that she wouldn't date, that she'd desire to be a godly wife and mother, rather than a career woman. That she'd be homeschooled and and love missions... the list went on in my head, as I greedily asked God for so much more than I deserved to. And in the end, all through the teen years when girls were flocking to this handsome, godly young man, there was Dianna, six thousand miles away, growing in grace and godliness, waiting for the Only Man she would date: Her future husband! Have I mentioned she's my Best Friend?

Well, that's just a little bit of what's on my heart as I look at the photos of Micaiah Ray. He looks just like his dad... that's Jordan in this picture! I will get to see him soon... and just as my own mother, twenty three years ago, came off the plane with eyes only for that baby, I too, will soon drink in the sweetness of this blessing that is my grand baby. Little bits of me and everyone precious to me, all emanating from this precious bundle of Boy.

They say that you can only really know if you've done well as a parent when you see your children's children being raised in the admonition of the Lord. Well, we feel very blessed right now! This little man will grow up knowing that not only was God faithful to his Dad and Mom, but to his Grandparents, and to his Great-Grandparents.

May the blessing endure for all generations!