Guest Devotionalist -- Aaron Gansky

Namesake - Part 3 By: Aaron Gansky Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi. -- Genesis 29:34-35 We shuffle into the doctor's waiting room and my wife takes a clipboard with sundry paperwork. Josiah busied himself bringing color to Spider-Man's epic battle against evil in his latest coloring book. Elijah was interested in two things, one on either side of the room. His two-year-old logic insists that it should be possible to be in two separate places at once, and so he conducts an experiment with this in mind. It consists primarily of running at brake-neck speeds from one end to the other. How can he go so fast with those two tiny legs? I'm fifteen times older than him, a wee bit taller, and can't keep pace. Like any father, this leads me to the natural conclusion: this boy will make me money someday. So I smile and let him run, making sure he doesn't plow into anyone along the way. We're excited. Today my wife will have another ultrasound, but this time the baby is far enough along to determine gender. People tell us to wait until the birth, to be surprised. We say, "We'll be surprised at the ultrasound." Call us new-fashioned. And we were surprised. My money was definitely on a girl. I figure, law of averages, right? Three kids, you should be able to get at least ONE girl. Maybe it's just not in me. Leah was the wife of Jacob. Jacob did not love her, not the way he loved her younger sister Rachel. But God worked a miracle, and opened Leah's womb and Rachel was barren (at least at first). Leah's third son was named Levi, which might mean "attached." Leah's hope was that the birth of a third son would win her the affection of her husband. And our third son has brought our family just a little closer. Josiah is excited about the eminent arrival of the new boy (he sings him to sleep each night via mommy's belly-button). Elijah, who, until this time, had little interest in the baby, was now able to put a face (skullish as it is) to what was inside mommy, and now will talk to him. The tribe of Levi were responsible for ministerial duties among the other tribes. It is our desire that Levi, like his namesake, will carry the name of God on his lips. And, with the coming of Levi, we'll have a prophet (Elijah), a priest (Levi), and a king (Josiah). Aaron Gansky lives with his wife and 2.5 children in Calfornia. He is a high school creative writing teacher, a novelist and a writer. Aaron and his family eagerly await the arrival of the other .5 of baby Gansky, due in the fall.