I can hardly believe it BUT it’s been one whole year with James Clinton Dean V, or “Jimmie,” after James’ late grandfather.
The girls lovingly call him, Vimmie, and it works since he has been our sign of victory while also being the 5th James Clinton Dean.
When I see his dimple filled smile, it often takes me back to the the day I about collapsed with the news that I was carrying him. You can read more about that here.
It is not lost on me that this child was meant to be here. When I was pregnant, a nickname I had for him was “Jay.” The jay bird is a symbol of victory and as he ushered himself into the world, by the skilled hands and PRAYER of Dr. Gregory Root and his team- the song that played was “See a Victory” by Elevation Worship. Profound and precious.
The drain of all the doctors visits over the last year and a half weren’t over but I knew this part was. In that birth experience, my fears were matched with the overwhelming sense of peace, love, and being known. A promise fulfilled.
As they cradled him on my chest, I praised God for this life and asked Him to make Jimmie a warrior in His name.
Should we only accept good from God and not adversity? Job 2:10
For the last two years, I’ve had the strangest sense of peace while also feeling waves of no control. On that day, it was like everything was in slow motion. God let me gaze upon His goodness. And honestly, I’ve gripped hard on that this entire year.
When Jimmie laughs, giggles, or says the cutest, “THANK YOU”— I see His mercy, His grace. When he cries, is hurting, or has sleepless nights, I’m reminded of the babes before him that never felt this pain or hurt.
I didn’t earn anything, but out of God’s love for me, He gifted me this life. That little Jay Bird.
Jimmie’s name means, SUPPLANTER. It means to hold or take the place of another. In so many ways my son has done this. Namely, his birth helped restore my body and helped freeze the aggressive nature of the lymphoma.
I know adversity isn’t fully over in this story. But we’ve seen wonderful gains and are hopeful with my team moving forward to see HEALING and progress.
Currently, I’m on a six month checkup basis. This babe was a VICTORY, he helped push me towards healing: emotionally and physically. His life brought me to a place where I was able to see greater depths of God’s love I would have never known on my own. Each day is proof of that!
We pray that Jimmie’s whole life shows others JOY, LIFE, and LOVE. That he is a WARRIOR for God’s name and that He is a devoted follower of Jesus ALL the days of His life. I will never forget His love for me through my son. And that’s just like the Father, the Provider, the Alpha and Omega. His promise never fails.
As we prepare to dedicate Jimmie’s life this Sunday under the verses of 1 Samuel 1:21-28, there are so many of you that have been a part of this story.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your love. Thank you for loving our girls and being the hands and feet of Jesus.
1 Samuel 1:21-28
When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”
“Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
Psalm 96:1-6
Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
xoxo
