This week, I thought I’d share with you some words from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, as quoted in a beautiful book I was given by a friend at work called “Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine-Month Novena for Mothers to Be” by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle. (I highly recommend it!)

“What was the Good News that Christ had come to give? That God is love. That God loves you. God loves me. That God has made you and made me for better things to love and to be loved. We are not just a number in the world. That’s why it is so wonderful to recognize the presence of that unborn child, the gift of God. The greatest gift of God to a family is the child, because it is the fruit of love.

“And we read something very beautiful in the Scripture, also, where God speaks, and He says: ‘Even if a mother could forget her child, I will not forget you. I have carved you in the palm of My hand. You are precious to me. I have called you by name.’

“That is why as soon as a child is born, we give it a name, the name God has called from all eternity—to love and be loved.”

There is so much in Mother Teresa’s words to wonder at. One thing that struck me is at the very end: that the names we choose to give our children are the very names that “God has called from all eternity.” That is amazing!

And speaking of names (since I don’t think I’ve shared them yet), Daniel and I have decided on “Charles Edward” for a boy—our fathers’ middle names put together—and “Samantha Mary” for a girl—“Samantha” just because we like it and “Mary” for a number of reasons.

Have a wonderful weekend!