Why Levi? (joined in harmony)

Michael and I had the hardest time deciding names for our son.  We actually didn't name him until we were holding him in the hospital and after much prayer.  We wanted to name him a name that had deep meaning for our lives as well as his.  When we name our children, we consider what kind of person we hope they will grow up to be and what this child means to our lives. 

Levi was Jacob and Leah's third son in Genesis.  This is our third son.  Leah was longing for affection and love from her husband, so she hopefully named her third born a name the means, "joined in harmony."  My heart breaks for Leah, and we understand her plight somewhat.  We are at a time in our lives were we are longing for harmony in our lives.  We both have a deep desire to be in harmony with each other, our children, and our loved ones.  Lately we have had an insatiable desire to be in harmony with God's will for our lives.  We have been seeking wholeheartedly what He wants for our lives instead of having a self focused drive.  We also want our son to seek harmony with God all of his days.

Levi wasn't really a good guy in the Bible.  In the end, his father couldn't even leave him a decent blessing because of all of his misbehavior.  BUT....God uses all things for good.  Levi, who messed up so much, was the father of the Levites--the chosen people to serve God.  Michael and I have felt the sting of regret and the consequences of mistakes.  We know that our Levi will mess up as well.  But in the Biblical Levi's life we see God's amazing restorative powers and redemption that is for us all.  We plan to teach our little Levi that nothing can separate him from the LOVE of God, and our God even uses our mistakes for good.