Lamentations 3: 31-33

31 For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
³² Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
³³ For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.

Parish desired for me to share the rest of the story.  After reading the post yesterday he desired to talk about God’s faithfulness. Our time of prayer and fasting has proven to be an open door of communication.  He acknowledged with tears how hard the barren years were for him and the losses we experienced.  He reminded me of the Vivian story.

Written by Parish: (1998)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

I John 5:14

I originally wrote this as a letter to some friends, who are missionaries in Mexico, before our daughter Vivian was born.  Here’s the story…

We had some real hardships when we first started trying to have another child.  The first time we conceived, we went to the doctor for an ultrasound and thought it would be a good idea to take Victoria, our oldest daughter, so she could share in the joy.  Our joy turned to heartbreak when the nurse told us there was no heartbeat detected and Anna was going to miscarriage.  There were no symptoms yet; however, through modern technology, we found out early.  It was even harder trying to answer Victoria’s questions about “why our baby died.”  We conceived again, several months later, and miscarried again.

We doubted whether we could bear trying again; but after a lot of talk and prayer, we decided to try…and conceived again.  Everything seemed okay with the baby, but Anna had a lot of morning sickness.  Each time we went for ultrasounds, we looked for the heartbeat.  Even when Anna went for regular checkups, she asked the doctor if she could listen to the heartbeat.

We had an ultrasound a few months later; baby was doing well; and they told us it might be a girl.  The baby was not in the best position to see, so they were not really sure.

We had a boy name picked out, but had no girl names.  We probably had a dozen baby name books with all the name meanings; but still we had no girl name picked out in case it really was a girl.  I had sent Anna an email with a little girl attached.  One afternoon Anna said, “Parry, I want you to come up with a name.  Pray about it, go look at that picture, and tell me the first name that comes to you.”  So I did.

I wasn’t really intense about it.  I was getting laundry together and doing other house stuff, but I did pray earnestly for about 10 – 15 minutes while I was doing it.  Then I made my way to the computer where the picture was located.  I sat down and moved the mouse and as soon as I saw the picture…a voice spoke…God’s voice! Now there was no clap of thunder or burning bush; but the clear, audible voice spoke one gentle word…

“Vivian.”

 I sat there for a few seconds, but then went into where Anna was cleaning.

She said, “That was quick…so do you have a name?”

I said, “Yes, I do.  It’s Vivian!”

I told her how God had spoken to me – not just feeling God’s presence, but hearing His voice!

I said, “Well, let’s look it up and see what it means.”

Keep in mind where we came from and where we were then.  The trials of the miscarriages and the early nervousness of not knowing how this pregnancy was going to go, listening to heartbeats…

I picked up the baby name book on top of the stack and flipped through the pages until I came to the V’s.  I saw the name and almost started to cry,

“Anna…it means ALIVE!!”

I asked God for a name; and to my ears, a name was spoken.  But with one utterance, God spoke VOLUMES to my heart!  He gave me not only what I was asking for, but what He knew I needed.  I no longer doubted that everything was okay because it was in His hands.  What an awesome God we serve.

We had another ultrasound a few weeks later and they confirmed it was a girl.

We named her Vivian Grace…”ALIVE BY GRACE!”

God IS good…and takes care of all our needs!