Elizabeth Parker Beacham (Lib) was born today, the Feast of St. Stephen, December 26 (in the Eastern Church St. Stephen is remembered on the 27th). She is named Parker from her mothers side of the family and Elizabeth from her fathers side. Her paternal great-grandmother was Elizabeth King Reed, affectionately known as Mama Lib. Kellie and Douglas have decided to call her Lib after Mama Lib. What adds to the personal family side of this birth and name is that Mama Lib (Susans mother) died December 26, 2005. For Lib to be born this day, brings great joy to Susan and the memory of her mother. For several reasons we are thankful she was born on this date. As the Feast Day of St. Stephen, there is Christian spiritual significance to us. First, Stephen, from Acts 7, was one of the first deacons designated to care for the temporal needs of the poor, needy, and widows of the church. Second, Stephen was the first Christian martyr and died faithfully proclaiming the Gospel and pleading for mercy for those who participated in his death (including Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul). A deacon or deaconess is a person called to serve. That characterizes the life of her great-grandmothers for whom she is named. Mama Lib was willing to serve in any capacity, whether teaching Sunday School, cooking, or cleaning. Service to Christ was not about titles or attention, but about faithfulness to and for the least. That is our prayer for Lib, that the spirit of service to Christ, even to the giving of the total of her life, will anoint and cover her life.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:48:21 +0000