G-D HAS BEEN GRACIOUS
Hananyah Lael Mejia
Shalom friends! As I began to think about what I might write for Ari Yehuda’s first blog, what seemed most natural was to share life as a new mom. Our son, Hananyah was born on May 24, 2021. He is an absolute blessing, and through this new stage of parenthood I have been given many glimpses of the Father’s heart. Every aspect of this journey has been covered with His love and faithfulness. And it is nothing but the goodness of G-d that has kept us.
Hananyah is a rainbow baby, which only until recently did I discover what a rainbow baby is- a baby born after a miscarriage. After losing our first baby to miscarriage, the knowledge that G-d is good and the eternal truth that we can rest in His goodness are solely what brought us through this tragedy. We don’t understand why things like this happen, but we do know that He is sovereign and that we can fully trust Him.
When I was pregnant with Hananyah we had a couple of scares, and his birth was not an easy one. In between pushing his heart rate would go down, but then bounce back. A suction instrument was eventually used to help pull my son out, and it was when I was told to push one more time before needing an emergency C-section that my son was delivered. I remember asking G-d for a miracle before, and praise be to Him, my son came out. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck three times, but G-d is faithful. All throughout my pregnancy I prayed for His protection over my baby. I prayed for a healthy and safe delivery. I believe my son, Hananyah has a special calling over his life. He was born so tiny (6 pounds, 10 ounces), but what a fighter he is! He is a little love, and it is so clear that he is going to be a strong and determined little boy.
We named our son after Hananyah in the Bible, who is commonly known by his Babylonian name, Shadrach, which was given to him in captivity. This name was my first choice for a boy very early on. Hananyah means “G-d has been gracious”, and what a fitting name for our son when we look at him, for how G-d kept him in my womb, and for how He delivered Him. G-d has been gracious, and I have no doubt that we will continue to see His grace in the life of our son.
The story of Hananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah is my favorite story in the Bible. Our prayer for our son is that he would be like Hananyah in the Bible, standing for G-d in a culture that has become so anti-G-d. When I pray for my son each day, one of my prayers for him is that he would live up to his name, living his life in a way that demonstrates the beautiful truth that G-d has been and is gracious. Amen!