August 29, 2006
During this Advent season, we are reminded that the angel appeared to Joseph to tell him that he will have a son and he is to name him, “Jesus.” The name, “Jesus” was one of the fairly common names in those days but those of us who follow Jesus know that out of such a humble common birth, Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, the Son of God.
I like the name “Donald” too. It means “heard by God.” In the hearts of Christi and Johnny, they prayed for a child and God heard their prayers and blessed them with a son, Jaydon Donald Chow. Jaydon will grow up carrying his family namesake—the grandson of Grandfather Donald Jin, that all male members of Jin family features “Donald” in their names, and the hope and dreams of his father because Jaydon is named with the “J” from his father’s name, Johnny. By bestowing a name to such a little one without any knowledge or guarantees that all these hopes and dreams would ever come true reveals that we as parents, grandparents, family and this church all have great plans for Jaydon and for all of the little ones. Their names suggest our deepest and richest hopes.
As a gift from God because God heard Christi and Johnny’s prayers, we pray that Jaydon will grow up knowing Jesus for himself. We pray that Jaydon will serve God as his parents and family are serving God today. We hope he will continue to be a happy and funny and loving boy making not only his parents happy but also bringing happiness and joy to the whole world.
One of the clearest tenor voices that we have heard at this church is the voice of Don Jin. I hope that you are playing some old tapes of Don’s singing or The Three Tenors Christmas with Luciano Pavarotti so that Jaydon can begin singing like his grandfather did. Po Po Betty would love that.
May God bless Jaydon Donald Chow because God heard your prayers and has given you a wonderful gift.