Children are a gift from the Lord. Perhaps it is normal to take for granted how significant the sovereignty of God is in these matters, but that consideration has been forced upon us. We are completely subjected to sovereignty because we are utterly powerless. We cannot manipulate, we cannot scheme, we cannot "reasonably plan." We cannot even say, "If the Lord wills, this is what we will do."

So we just delight in what God has given us and tell Him what we would like. For years now we have been content. We arrived at contentment before Patience was given to us and we have been content with only her. "Content" almost sounds like we settled with it. On the contrary, we have always felt ourselves to be over-blessed.

But, interestingly, when God grants His children the joy of being over-blessed, He also gives us desires. Certainly "mercy drops 'round us are falling, but for the showers we plead." So, we have requested of God. Samuel either means "requested of God" or "God heard/hears." Either way, the point is that we have a God to whom we can pray. We have a God that can be petitioned.

Corban means "a gift dedicated to God." Our cups overflow. The Lord is gracious to us. What we get is what we can give. And if the Lord gives us another child, that child will be dedicated to God even as our first is. So we have liked the name Corban for a long, long time.