One of the most precious moments that is burned into my brain from our first day in Ethiopia has to do with our long conversation with Haddush, the director of the tranistion home for our agency. As we were talking while Mikayla napped, he casually asked me if I knew what her name, Tamir meant. My answer was, "well, not really-I'm dying to know!" My previous research on the internet seemed inconclusive...the closest I could get to a meaning for her name was "owner of palm trees." He shared with us that meaning of Tamir in Amharic is "miracle." WOW! Then, he looked back at her file for a moment and looked me straight in the eyes and said, "And she is indeed a miracle, this Tamir." My heart absolutely melted. Knowing her story means knowing that she truly is a miracle. I never want to forget the way that her caregivers say her name (I do my best with my southern accent), and I never want to forget the intensity and love in Haddush's words as he shared more about her name. Her name is such a gift from her country, and I am so grateful for that.
Her first name, Mikayla, also has significant meaning for us. It actually is our prayer for our little girl. Mikayla means "like God" and "a gift from God." Our fervent prayer for her is that she will grow to have a heart like God. A heart that follows hard after Him and loves all of His people just as He does. Names can seem so simple, but her name, Mikayla Tamir, truly tells her story.
