Why Joseph?

After all that talk about how special and thoughtful a name should be for a child, you may be wondering "why Joseph?"

Joseph; God will increase.
Abram; Exalted Father (God the Father)

Joseph has much more meaning than what is described in a baby naming book... it does have some tradition behind it. It does happen to be my middle name given to me in honor of a truly great Great-Uncle, meaning he was an awesome man... from what I've been told by ANYBODY that has shared a story of his life. But this little guy was not named after Myself or that Great-Uncle; instead he was named after a Great-Aunt. No, that is no mistake... our son was named after a woman, a truly wonderful woman.

My Grandma Riley has used the words "very special" on several occasions to describe my Great-Aunt. I really hadn't ever realized how much she had understated how "special" she really was. Some of you may recall Jesse sharing a story about Sister "Dorofy"... in the words of Cassidy. Sister Dorothy is known to my mother as "Sister Joe"... when I say Sister you may wonder why... She is a Sister of Saint Joseph.... Sister Amelia Joseph. I think I could add just one more name... Sister "Simply Amazing."

Just under a year ago she was involved in an accident... in which she was severely injured. She will remind you of something that most of us know, but don't understand...there is NO such thing as an accident. She understands and reminds us all that Our Heavenly Father has a good and perfect plan for us... sometimes we may not understand... sometimes we may not like the paths that He leads us down, but as she has reminded me and most likely others... this was no accident and we must TRUST in Him.

I personally have been faced with loss before and wondered, "what good could come from this?"... Through all of our trials I think God intends for us to become closer to Him and to become more like Him.

Sister Dorothy has shared love and compassion for and with many people over the years... and that did not change... she found ways to care for others while they cared for her. She has always been "special" as my grandmother says, but I never really understood why, until she shared this with me. After all that she has been through... hospitalization, surgeries, rehab, and even a coma... she hasn't stopped thinking about how she can continue to serve God and the Church. She took the time to write a letter, a letter of forgiveness, love and concern for the person who some may say was responsible for her "accident". How could she be so understanding and forgiving... "Sister Joe" understands Gods Love and more importantly she understands how to share His Love. He has forgiven us, He has Loved us, He has given us His son.

I think this explains best why we chose Joseph... if our little boy becomes a man with half the character, love, and compassion showed by this truly "special" and Godly woman, than we've been blessed twice.... once with a beautiful son and also with an amazing Great-Aunt.