A Jon Post
We’re having a little girl.
I get to be a daddy to a little girl.
Anaya Hosanna Heller will be here some time near the middle of February.
Over the next 20+ years I’ll learn what it means to raise a princess.
I’ll try to show her how a husband loves his wife. I’ll teach her how to drive stick shift. I’ll try to demonstrate humility. I’ll show her how to swim. I’ll teach her to clothe herself in strength and dignity and laugh at the days to come (Proverbs 31:25). I’ll teach her how to ride a bike. I’ll show her how to open her arms to the needy and extend her hands to the poor (Proverbs 31:20). I’ll teach her to climb cliffs and find hand and footholds where ascent over the crux seems impossible. I’ll hold her hand and dry her tears and pray away fevers and kiss away fear and drive out rebellion and usher in truth and shoo away ghosts and beasts that come in the night and I’ll love and care and hug.
My little girl.
Anaya (Look up to God) Hosanna (and SHOUT with praise)…
You’ll bring forth poetry, and song, and dance.
You’re little hands, wrought by tender scarred ones, will show love and comfort and gentleness.
You’re little feet, dancing in the footsteps of those of us who go before you, and standing on the shoulders of those of us who stand beneath you.
Look my little one… Look little Anaya.
Look at your mother and her compassion for the lost. Look at her loving submission to her husband and her firm wisdom and her ready smile. Look at her patience and her grace. See how she clothes herself in her gentle, quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4), how she prays and fasts and buries heart in the depths of her Lord.
And look at your savior.
Little Anaya, look to the cross. Look to the one whose blood stained the ground and in whose grace and mercy we are purchased. Look to the cross my dear Anaya.
Oh, Lord Christ, save my daughter. In your mercy and compassion look past the sin that she is born into, that I pass on to her in my fallen flesh. Chose her for eternity, Jesus, and breathe life into a dead spirit. Save my daughter. Save her please. Have mercy on her. Don’t let her go into the night, don’t leave her in sin’s darkness, don’t let her pass into that shadow. Call her out into your marvelous light. Save my daughter, Lord Jesus. Oh… save my daughter, Lord Jesus.
I get to be a daddy to a little girl.
My dear Jon….How I long to have been the husband you have been to Layne, and how I long to be the father you are going to be. All this, because you our Savior in whom abides within you. Onward Spartacus with your sword held high, your heart leading the way, and your passion raging forward. You my friend are very special, and I am very blessed to have you as my son. We look forward to many, many more years of adventure, love, compassion, and endless stories in which God is going to write through you, Layne, Anaya, and the rest of the Heller clan to come. Love you my son~
Anaya, you have got the perfect daddy and mommy to insure you grow up to live out your name :) Jon, precious “first” letter to your little princess :)
when i heard yall were pregnant, i wanted it to be a little girl.
my heart rejoices in your expectancy, jon, of being the most impactful father you can be!
the name is perfect.
i cried when i read her name. it is right, it is real.i know her already . thats how the name felt coming off my tongue.
her initials… ahh. what rest.:)
YEAH!!!! SO happy for you guys! :) Yeah for girls! :) You guys are amazing parents already! :)
Yes yes yes, we can indeed bless our children even before they are born. How wonderful parents the two of you will make. Bless you both and bless little Anaya.
Beautiful. I can’t think of anything to add that you haven’t already said. Although I think your little princess will wear hiking boots.
Congrats and that is the perfect, precious, heavenly name for your little princess to the coming of this world. God-picked perfect parents to be for Little Anaya–Praise JESUS, JESUS< Holy Good Heaven and Earth…God Bless ya'll.. Jesus In…
Anaya —
You are deeply loved.
You are of unimaginable worth.
You are a Child of Destiny.
You are being formed in your mother’s womb by the very Hands of God!
Welcome, little Anaya Hosanna!
Anaya,
My precious niece to come..(I can’t WAIT to see you and hold you!) The Lord has blessed you with two amazing parents. We are bursting with love for you already!