Titus, my fifth grandchild and my fourth grandson is my daughter’s third boy. She seems destined to be a boy mom and she has embraced it in true Caroline fashion. She goes all in with every task, no matter how big or small. I’ve always told her that she holds herself to a much higher standard than anyone else ever could. When her boys wanted to decorate their trunk for fall festival Trunk or Treat at their church and be David and Goliath, she constructed a wooden framework to support a nine foot giant. She cut foam board into an eight foot long whale for Thomas to sit inside and be Jonah. She pitched baseball in the backyard daily well into her third trimester of pregnancy and five weeks postpartum, two and a half year old Timothy rides piggyback while she and Thomas take turns being goalie for backyard soccer. She seems tireless but I have seen her sleepless nights and I recognize the tiredness around her eyes.
When a couple is expecting their first child, we assume there is a fifty-fifty chance of having either a boy or a girl but apparently the chance of having a boy is slightly higher. The probability of having a second and third boy consecutively drops dramatically. I believe nothing happens by chance.
Some research has shown that having two boys already may actually increase the chances of having a third to around fifty-eight percent but this was based on a limited sample in geographic area. You could probably find a study to support almost any hypothesis but as Solomon wrote, “But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body. When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.”
Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ecc.12.12-13.AMP
David was Jesse’s eighth and youngest son. When the prophet Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to consecrate themselves and come to sacrifice to the Lord, David was excluded.
“Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel.
But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen [any of] these.”
Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?”
Jesse replied, “There is still one left, the youngest; he is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse, “Send word and bring him; because we will not sit down [to eat the sacrificial meal] until he comes here.”
So Jesse sent word and brought him in.
Now he had a ruddy complexion, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance.
The LORD said [to Samuel], “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.”
1 Samuel 16:10-13 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1sa.16.10-13.AMP
It’s interesting to me that David’s appearance is mentioned at all since God had already told Samuel not to look on the outward appearance for God sees the heart. David, called a man after God’s own heart, waited roughly two decades before he became king of all of Israel. He served under Saul before he became a fugitive pursued by the jealous king. He refused to exalt himself or lift a finger against God’s anointed. During this time, he amassed a following as men came to him from all of Israel’s territories. What at first represented a ragtag band became a mighty force by the time of his final anointing. (I Samuel 22:2, I Chronicles 12)
“The whole community of Israel came together to see David at Hebron.
They said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, Saul was our king. But you led the men of Israel in battle.
The LORD your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd over my people Israel. You will become their ruler.’ ”
All the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron.
There he made a covenant with them in front of the LORD.
They anointed David as king over Israel.
It happened just as the LORD had promised through Samuel.”
1 Chronicles 11:1-3 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1ch.11.1-3.NIRV
“David became more and more powerful.
That’s because the LORD who rules over all was with him.”
1 Chronicles 11:9 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1ch.11.9.NIRV
“The chiefs of David’s mighty warriors and the whole community of Israel helped David greatly.
They helped him become king over the entire land.
That’s exactly what the LORD had promised him.”
1 Chronicles 11:10 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1ch.11.10.NIRV
Ever wonder how David endured in Saul’s court and living in exile after Samuel anointed him Israel’s next king? He didn’t manage on his own. He was befriended by Jonathan in the palace, Saul’s son who loved David as his own soul. He was surrounded by a company referred to in scripture as mighty men of valor, heroes in their own right as he evaded Saul time and time again. Reading about the friendship David shared with Jonathan, I am motivated to pray for my grandsons to enjoy rich sibling relationships. Reading the exploits of David’s mighty men, especially those referred to as The Three, caused me to think of Thomas, Timothy, and Titus. Jesus called twelve disciples and he had many followers but he often chose Peter, James, and John to be with him. They alone witnessed His Transfiguration. God has blessed Caroline and her husband, Jacob with these boys. Discipling the next generation is a trust. Who is equal to the task of raising three boys in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Yet with God, all things are possible!
Though we live two hours apart, my daughter and I visit regularly. When we can’t be together, we talk. When days are long and her older boys are awake predawn before she’s finished nursing the baby and bedtime seems light years away, I listen. Sometimes I’m simply present, a voice on the phone as they go about bits of their day. If I’m quiet for too long, Thomas may ask his mom, “Is Lolly still there?” It’s during those quiet moments that I pray God’s strength for my daughter. I pray peace for her boys. I pray that she and Jacob will walk closely with Jesus and with one another so that their boys will see the value of walking by faith and not by sight. And I pray that my grandchildren continue to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, just as Jesus did. (Luke 2:52)
“I always thank my God for you.
I thank him because of the grace he has given to you who belong to Christ Jesus.
You have been blessed in every way because of him.
You have been blessed in all your speech and knowledge.
God has shown that what we have spoken to you about Christ is true.
There is no gift of the Holy Spirit that you don’t have.
You are full of hope as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to come again.
God will also keep you strong in faith to the very end.
Then you will be without blame on the day our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
God is faithful.
He has chosen you to share life with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1co.1.4-9.NIRV
“Finally, let the Lord make you strong.
Depend on his mighty power.
Put on all of God’s armor.
Then you can remain strong against the devil’s evil plans.
Our fight is not against human beings.
It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world.
It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.
So put on all of God’s armor.
Evil days will come.
But you will be able to stand up to anything.
And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.
So remain strong in the faith.
Put the belt of truth around your waist.
Put the armor of godliness on your chest.
Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace.
Also, pick up the shield of faith.
With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Put on the helmet of salvation.
And take the sword of the Holy Spirit.
The sword is God’s word.
At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit.
Pray all kinds of prayers.
Be watchful, so that you can pray.
Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/eph.6.10-18.NIRV
Evil days will come so put on all of God’s armor. Fix your eyes on Jesus and find community in His Church. Ask, seek, and knock, confident that God in Christ is present, answering, and opening doors no one can close. Jesus is coming back just as He promised.
“Be strong, all you who put your hope in the LORD.
Never give up.”
Psalm 31:24 NIRV
