Can there be any news more thrilling than the birth of a baby? Linnea and Adam’s son arrived safe and sound today, one week overdue but by God’s calendar exactly on time. Plump and adorable at 8 pounds 13 ounces, Micah Nathan came rushing into the world after a short labor without drugs or complications. 
When Linnea’s call came through, I was transferring groceries from my cart to the car, on a 24 degree day, and when she told me they’d chosen Nate’s name as part of Micah’s, I broke down and cried. I don’t even know why. The elderly gentleman getting into the car next to mine became alarmed and came over to help me with my cart. But he needn’t have worried. My tears were of joy!
The name Nathan means “God has given,” and oh how true that is with this little boy. The interesting part is that God first gave this surprising pregnancy, than took Nate away, then gave little Nathan. Our Lord is on the move, and we are following him, doing our best to keep up!
This side of heaven, Micah will not meet the grandpa who shares his name, but we’ll have a good time telling him stories that will allow the two of them to meet in memories. I grew up knowing only one out of four grandparents. Micah will have the blessing of knowing three out of four, all of whom have prayed for him and loved him thoroughly from well before today’s earthly debut.
Every new baby is a gift from God. I believe becoming pregnant is a miracle each and every time. God created the first human being, a man with the same name as our son-in-law Adam, by starting with his hands, using the dust of the earth. (Oh, how I would love to have watched that process!) After looking over his work, he decided to breathe a life and soul into that hand-made body, and I believe he does it that way still, at every single conception. No life is purely biological, and no life is an accident, which includes “unplanned pregnancies.” Each one is the result of divine intervention and the plan behind it.
Micah Nathan is a creation of God, brought to the earth at this exact time for specific purposes that will only become known as his life unfolds day by day and year upon year. The full-circle verses are on my mind today as I picture Micah surrounded by the One who made him… because that One has gone before, will go alongside, will hover over, will support from beneath and will come behind Micah. I will be praying this child will delight in that place of security from a very young age.
My mind has spent this happy day flitting back and forth between Nate and Micah Nathan. Mom used to get close to the face of every newborn and coo, “You are precious because you were so recently with God.”
I’m not sure where she got that theology, but the concept of God’s personal touch on a baby is accurate. Stretching it one step further, I could coo to Micah, “As you left heaven to come to earth, did you see your grandpa?”
Of course that’s just the stuff of greeting cards, but as I’ve thought about Nate, unable to meet his little namesake, I’m wondering if maybe he knows all about him. It would be just like the Lord to let Nate share in the celebration of this day, from right there in paradise.
“The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. You [Lord] go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” (Genesis 2:7, Psalm 139:5)
Congratulations, Margaret (and Linnea & Adam too!) I was excited to be parked right next to Mary at church when she got your phone call!! Big baby – I’m so glad things went well. Happy for you all!
Theologically I can’t prove it but I know when josh was born 2 months after my Mom went to be with Jesus, I had great peace that she knew about her new grandkids. When i look at Jer, sometimes I think she and our Lord talked…because he is so much like her. Prasing God for the safe arrival of this new little guy to your family.
Congrats! Congrats! Congrats! I was so excited to get a text from my mom late last night with the details of sweet Micah Nathan. Love you guys!
Congrats everyone!!! I’m happy everything went well…
How precious and gracious is our Lord , and because He IS our heavenly Father, I think Nate met Micah before he left earth…and watched the whole process of his birth…and the naming was God-ordained because of Linnea and Adams’ love for both. How blessed we all are!
Have a wonderful week rejoicing!
God bless,
patzian
Rejoicing with all of you!
So happy to hear of Micah Nathans safe arrival and what a wonderful name. I am so happy for all of you
God has knitted a precious new sou. Welcome baby Micah Nathan. Tears of joy are welcome. Someone once said the tears of joy from a mother and grandmother at the birth of a baby are raindrops from heaven that that nurture growth just like rain is to the seed.
Congratulaltions on Micah Nathan! What a miracle! I very much appreciate your blogs and am so often encouraged to press on.
Congratulations, Margaret. So much Scripture comes pouring through my mind, and with it, much comfort and joy. We all are so blessed. Thank You, Lord!
Praise the Lord! What a wonderful gift He has given! And thank you for sharing- it has started my day at work on such a joyful note!
I am so very happy. Micah Nathan has been born into a most wonderful family who love the Lord with all their hearts!
Who is like Jehovah? The God who gives…and gives….and giveth again. Glad to hear that joy came in the morning, and weighed 8 lbs! Now all of you can kiss your miracle! And we can smile at the joy spreading all across blog-land, peopled with blog-ees who can’t wait to click on getting thru this, to see how God is moving forward each and every day!
Oh, what joy…congratulations, Margaret, Linnea and Adam on grandchild #3! Micah Nathan…two great names after two great men. Little Micah Nathan will have much to look up and live up to as he learns about the prophet and his grandfather. “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” God took Nate and now He has given Micah Nathan. May he carry on this godly heritage.
Dear Grandma, mom, dad, uncles, aunts, and grafted in members of the Nyman clan-
Congratulations on new life. How exciting is this day, and how precious that he will bear his grandpa’s name. There is a time for everything under the sun, and this is a time for rejoicing. How good of God to bring this on the heels of sorrow and grief.
Margaret, your mom’s theology remains solid as I read this: “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139 just a little beyond verse 5). We are confined to thinking in time, and time here has a beginning and end. But the Alpha and Omega is eternal, unconfined, and so in certain senses, those who are, who were and who are yet to be, have always been. Now my theology might be questioned, but it does give cause for musing.
“Lord, You knew from the foundation of the earth Micah Nathan. You know the number of hairs on his head, whether there are yet none or soon to be red. You know ahead of time the joys and sorrows of his life, and You are going before Him as surely as You went before the Israelites. Like Timothy, because of his godly mother and grandmother, from infancy make him know the holy Scriptures, which are able to make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
Rejoicing with all of you,
Terry
I’m smiling with you through my tears of joy! What wonderful news! Welcome Micah Nathan! Congratulations to all!
I was just praying for Linnea and baby so I’m glad to know he has arrived. How awesome that Micah shares his middle name with his grandpa!!! Congratulations!!
Hurrah!
What a beautiful boy! My first thought on hearing of his arrival yesterday was how his name will always remind him of our call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, and how his grandpa’s legacy will serve as an example of following that call. Congratulations!
Congratulations! I read Linnea’s blog about induction and have been praying for them so much! Can’t wait to hear the whole story, especially the “without drugs” part as I know that was a concern for her. Savor the joy.
Congratulation to everyone!! What a precious baby!
Blessings to all! What a day to rejoice in this precious new life. He looks perfect! He is so fortunate to be included in such a wonderful family. As he grows he will certainly understand all of God’s special blessings on his life!
Margaret, congratulations again! The name Micah reminds me of someone in our family!! And I agree with Adam that Micah’s face is a Nyman face. Have a wonderful time in Florida getting to know your new grandson. God is good!!!
Congratulations!!! I am looking forward to getting to know the little guy!
Just adorable! Congratulations!
Such a lovely gift from the Father above – I know Micah Nathan will bring you all a great deal of joy – he’s beautiful!!!!!!
Such a precious face! This is so exciting! I’m sure you’re having tons of fun visiting them and meeting little Micah!