(Photo courtesy of KTUU Channel 2, from the Anchorage Daily News article here).
World, meet Trig Paxson Van Palin. Trig, meet the world.
Governor Sarah Palin went into labor about a month early while at a national Governors’ conference in Texas, necessitating a hasty return to Alaska , but mother and child are reportedly doing well. He is the Palins’ fifth child and second son.
The name “Trig” is from the Norse heritage of his father’s family, and has the dual meanings of ‘true’ and ‘brave victory’.
“Paxson” is the name of a small community that is a popular spot for snowmachiners, of which his dad is a champion competitor.
And finally, guess which rock star lead singer from the ’80’s inspired them to add the third name, “Van”? Cute, eh?
However, the family announcement revealed a far more serious side to this new life, and an inspiring witness to his parents’ sanctity-of-life beliefs. It reads:
“Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives.”
They have not yet specified what those “special challenges” are, or their severity or potential impact on his development. However, the point is that they did not use these negative tests as a “search-and-destroy” operation. Trig is not a tragic burden on them, but a privilege and a God-entrusted gift. God bless them for that!
Today is Lazarus Saturday, and the eve of Palm Sunday. Lent has passed, and now Holy Week is upon us. We are in the final approach to Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, the Day above all days, and there is that undercurrent of mounting excitement and blessed anticipation.
I know that the big Pennsylvania primary is coming up on Tuesday, but I’m just not going to be that caught up in the affairs of the world this week. I’ll write again later. To my Orthodox readers, may your Pascha be holy, and wholly joyful!
UPDATE: Palin family confirms diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome. Article in today’s ADN here.
Filed under: Alaska, Christianity, Life, Orthodoxy, Politics, Society, Culture, Religion, Sarah Palin
