PHOTO Derick Dillard writes letter to his son Israel David Dillard
19 Kids and Counting couple Jill and Derick Dillard welcomed their first child Israel David Dillard on April 6 via C-Section, but before then proud pop-to-be Derick had already penned a heartfelt letter to his son.
Derick shared the letter, along with the bible verse that inspired it, on his and Jill Dillard’s blog on Tuesday. The Duggar Family Facebook page posted a link earlier today and introduced it by writing, “Before our grandson Israel was born, Derick wrote this beautiful letter to him.”
The entry begins with a quote from the Book of Isaiah from the New Living Translation of the Old Testament:
Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb; I am the Lord, who made all things, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited’, and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’; who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built’, and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” -Isaiah 44:21-28
Derick opens the letter by writing, “To Israel, my firstborn son,” and then he explains that the verses above from Isaiah inspired him because he wanted the Lord to accomplish the same thing with his son Israel as he said to the nation of Israel in the passage. Derick tells his unborn son that he loves him “more than anybody, except mom of course,” in reference to Jill, and that he hopes Israel will “turn to the Lord early in [his] life and glorify Him with all that is within [him].”
Though we are still waiting on your physical birth, I want you to know that mom and I are already praying for your spiritual birth. The world has not met you yet, but the Lord our God already knows everything about you and who you will be. After all, He is forming you as we speak! How awesome is our God, the God of Israel! None shall prevail against Him!
Derick talks about Jill’s pregnancy and the wonderful anticipation of Israel’s “physical” birth, mentioning having felt him “kicking, punching, and turning inside of mom for months.” Derick is sympathetic towards Jill, however, writing, “even if it doesn’t always feel the best for mom, I know the joy you bring makes it up for her.”
Derick ends the letter with his hopes for Israel. “I pray that you will continue to grow, in stature, in knowledge, and in wisdom, true wisdom, that is from the Lord. And know that I love you son and I always will, no matter what. I will say it again… I love you Israel!” He signed it with, “-Your daddy”
