Ivy of the Light

 

Suddenly, she was here.

Another new baby, arriving just after Miller—his brand-new cousin and the second little girl to join our family this year. “My cup runneth over,” I believe the saying goes.

Although her cry is certainly noticeable, there is something quiet and serene about Ivy. It is almost as if she slipped into our lives without too much fanfare.

What I have noticed most is how I feel when I hold her. Whether I am feeding her or rocking her to sleep, I immediately begin to feel calm. I find myself relaxing as I look at her.

When she is awake and becomes comfortable, she sometimes pauses and smiles. She doesn’t make a sound. She simply offers a quiet, beautiful smile. It brings me comfort and peace. I appreciate that about her.

I remain transfixed by the transformative effect a new baby can have on the human heart and spirit. Each child seems to arrive with a unique template—an individual design already imprinted upon the soul and emanating from the face.

So tiny. So powerful. So noble.

On Sunday, Braden—her father—and several of us encircled Ivy at church while he offered a special prayer and blessing on her behalf to God, the Father who had so recently sent her to us.

Braden said that she would be known throughout her life as Ivy Dawn Brown.

At that moment, I realized that I had not really paid much attention to her middle name. But as I began to think about the name Dawn, Braden spoke through the prayer about some of the special things he and her mother, Abby, had already noticed about her.

It was all about light.

He spoke of how she emanated light and seemed to attract light. He blessed her that, through her own seeking of light and truth, she would draw others toward the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As he spoke, my mind was carried into a vista where early morning light was breaking over the mountains, almost as if it were beckoning to her. I imagined scores of people being gathered by her light.

It occurred to me in that moment that her name must have been inspired.

Dawn.

Ivy Dawn.

Yes, she has light designed into her body, her spirit, and even her name.

How beautiful is that?

Her name carries meaning. Ivy speaks of life that endures—of strength, faithfulness, and growth. Dawn is the promise of light returning, a universal symbol of hope, clarity, and new beginnings.

Together, the names feel almost prophetic: enduring life joined with the hopeful light of a new day.

It is as if her parents embedded their hopes and dreams for her directly into her name—or perhaps they were drawn to the name before any of us fully understood why.

I found myself lost in light during that blessing. I did not hear many of the other words, but I will always remember Ivy in that moment. I will remember her as light as I watch her grow into her little self and face the world ahead.

The prayer ended.

Everything felt right.

I will think about that moment each time I hold her and, in the years to come, as I watch her receive and reflect the light that will undoubtedly come her way.

As I returned to my seat, one final thought settled into my heart:

We all need more light in this world.

Thank God for Ivy of the Light.