What’s Do They Think When They Hear Your Name?
One of the many perks of my residence here in Frisco, TX is that my sweet cousins, Charles & Mary Ellen Snow, live in the same community as me. Just a couple of days ago we spent nearly three hours “remembering” so many family traditions and moments, while looking at old photos and doing our best to remember names. We were laughing when we thought about the names of the 12 children of our grandparents: Mary Ellen’s mom was Shaddie Ruth, my mom, Edna Pearl, and then there was Lillie Mae, Bonnie Lou, Lassie Jo, John (Johnnie) Wooldridge Jr., Adrian N., Napoleon Bonaporte (NB for short), Robert Carroll, Sam Houston, and Donald. Whew!! Can you imagine keeping up with a clan like that?
The fact is: names are important. They have power. They define us. They’re more than a bunch of letters grouped together to sound pleasant to the ear. Names are more than a convenience allowing us just to know each other. They are the first thing someone knows about us. Names are a gift from God, and they contain His power. Remember Abraham (father of many nations)? And yes, that’s who he became. Every time God, and others, spoke his name, they were adding to the potential of His name. He DID become father of many nations.
We realized that, when we chose Ryan as our son’s name — it means “little king”, and our daughter’s name, Staci, means “resurrection life”, and indeed we have watched how the names we chose, have “marked” their character and destiny. I encourage soon-to-be moms and dads to choose their children’s names wisely and carefully — make sure it’s what they desire to see their child become.
My 2nd grandson is named Barrett Wuerch (the Wuerch name comes from German ancestry) and Barrett, in German, means “mighty as a bear”. We’ve called him “Bear” over the years, and he’s known as “Bear” by most everyone. I often remind him of the significance of what “Bear” means. I wasn’t surprised when I saw the meaning, and so thankful we see him with these qualities now, and in the future. I’ve given him several bear figurines over the years to keep reminding him of his destiny. Names are such a big deal – we all remember the many hours of decision-making about what our children’s names should be. The fact is we are “big deals” to God, and that’s what matters most. The fact is…..He knew us when we were still in our mother’s womb…..and He set us apart….to be difference makers in our world. (Jeremiah 1:5)
On many occasions, I’ve looked up friends and family members names to help them appreciate who they are and who they can become. If you don’t know already, look up your name (now it’s easy on the internet) and see how your personality and character traits measure up to that name. It’s astounding to see the parallels. I doubt that my mom and dad paid much attention to my name’s meaning – my sister named me, but it turns out my name, Donna means “lady” and Sue means “graceful lily”. Maybe, at times, it’s debatable whether those definitions best describe me, but I like to think, being a graceful lily lady is what God would like me to strive for daily.
Whether you are a Tom, Dick or Harry or a Mary, Sally or Sue……your name is the best thing going for you IF you treasure it and realize that every action, reaction, character flaw or character strength, honorable act or shameful act are remembered when others hear your name. Don’t we want our name to be synonymous with “a good name”? “A good name is to be more desired than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.” – Proverbs 22:1