Blog Post
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ISRAEL!!!
May 7, 2008On the 7th of May, 2003, Israel Aaron Raia was born. While duty constraints (was in a hot, dry place at that point in time) prevented me from holding my younger son til he was two months old, I nonetheless learned that evening when I got the e-mail & pictures. Adorable (and knows it!) and loved beyond words, Israel presents something of a puzzle to people...his multi-ethnic mosh has people guessing...Sicilian, Napolitano, a hint of German and American Indian believe it or not, and Filipino...Catholic, and with a Hebrew first & middle name. Which name, I might say, was chosen for a reason but still is full of coincidence. It means "wrestles with God" in Hebrew, and first appears in the book of Genesis. If you knew everything I had gone through in the months and even years theretofore the significance would be no mystery, I assure you. His middle name, Aaron, likewise is from the Bible, this time from the book of Exodus. Aaron was the brother of Moses, and Moses was nothing like the loud, bombastic portrayal by Charlton Heston in "The Ten Commandments". Rather, Moses was introverted and slow to speak, and is speculated to have stammered. Thus it was given to Aaron to speak FOR Moses and be his advocate much of the time. My older son Joey is introverted and completely gentle and non-aggressive, much as Moses is depicted...and, much as with Moses, has a brother who loves him and has no slightest hesitation to say what's on his mind! And get this, Israel was born a week before his due date. That's right, May 14. For those who don't know, that was the birthday or anniversary rather, of the restoration of the NATION of Israel to the Earth...also foretold in numerous Biblical prophecies! No, the timing WAS purely coincidental but I still think it's cool.
Happy birthday again.
You're loved so much more than you know, by so many people.
