There's a tiny baby girl several states away that bears my first name, and whose middle name I was asked to give. I haven't met her and I've never met her daddy. But, her mom Sarah was a special part of my life 10 years ago while Troy was serving as a pastor to college students. What an honor! Oh, may this little one know Christ and His redeeming grace!
I've asked Sara to share this special story with you today. Sometimes we have no idea what influence or impact we have in another's life until years later. I'm so grateful for this testimony of how the Lord works...in and through each of us!
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When I found out I was pregnant I knew what our boy’s name would be. My husband asked me “What if it’s a girl?” I thought a few days, I wanted it to be from the Bible and I wanted it to be something special to me. I was reading GraceLaced while thinking and started smiling when I realized there was a wonderful woman behind this blog that had raised me up for 4 years while I was at University. She taught me about God, His faithfulness and truth and how to follow him after I became a Believer. She taught me through example and experience how to be a godly woman, wife and mother. She showed me how to put myself out there and be willing to trust.
Knowing Ruth, I was granted the opportunity to see a beautiful woman in and out striving each day to live a life for God. She was open about her struggles and hopes, the good and the bad.
I want my daughter to grow up knowing God and that wouldn’t even be a sentence out of my mouth if I hadn’t encountered Him through Ruth and Troy’s home.
God is truly amazing when I look at my past and see how He placed me among an awesome group of people who loved Him and served him, right when I needed it.
Choosing to name my daughter Ruth seemed a way to honor what God has done in my past, and who he used to shape so much of my thoughts on family and marriage and wanting Him to be in the center of those worlds. I asked Ruth for a middle name and the blessing to name my daughter Ruth and was so excited when she fully agreed.
Ruth Evangeline came into the world quickly on June 1st. She is a blessing to me and my husband. She is the beginning of our legacy as we follow God’s leading in our life. I feel that God has brought me full circle in one piece of my life. It started with me going to a birthday celebration for a lady named Ruth in 2003. That lady turned into such a beautiful blessing as a beloved friend and mentor in my life and now I get to use what she taught me to teach my Ruth E.
Ruth: inherent meaning is Friend, spiritual connotation is Faithful
If you have had the joy of knowing Ruth, you know how true she embodies these words. I hope that as my daughter grows, people will be able to say the same about her.
"Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may know your commandments." Psalm 119:73
-Sarah E.
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Sarah, these words are a treasure to me. I'm so grateful that the Lord allowed our lives to cross, and that through Him, we may be a part of the great work He is doing in and through us!
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