I am really big on names and their meanings. I think it goes back to my Christian upbringing. Reading the Bible, I learned that people were very careful in the names they chose for their children because they would live up to their names in essence. Also, people would change their names according to specific special events/occurrences that would happen in their lives.
My name is Jennifer and is said to mean "fair one". My middle name is LeAnn and means "light; beautiful woman". I never thought my names meant a great deal, but growing in my faith has led me to realize that my parents were inspired by the Heavenly Father to give me those names, and I understand why. You see, I have struggled with my weight since college. I have made bad decisions that have caused me to feel ugly. I have allowed myself to listen to the voice of the world that has told me I'm not beautiful, but that I'm worthless, not good enough etc. Knowing my Father the way I have come to in the last few years has made me realize that regardless of the mud and the muck, I am beautiful because I am made in HIS image. This means, when God looks at me, He sees His perfect son, Jesus. I know I am FAR from perfect, but how many times have you gazed upon your own children and just thought that life couldn't be any more beautiful? That's only a smidgen of what God sees when He looks at you, His beautiful creation.
So, my name is special. And I love it more today than I think I ever have because regardless of what others think, Truth tells me that I was well thought out. I was planned. I had a purpose long before I was ever in my mother's womb. I was deliberate. I was not a mistake. I was wonderfully made. I am a child of God, the everlasting Father. The Great I Am. The One Who Was and IS and Is To Come. I am royalty. And I don't say this arrogantly. I say this completely humbled that my Father would love me so much as to number the hairs on my head. That He would love me enough to be there with open arms, waiting for me to accept His gift of grace and forgiveness. And today, I accept that.
I am changed.
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I am really big on names and their meanings. I think it goes back to my Christian upbringing. Reading the Bible, I learned that people wer...
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Much of my life is centered around my two boys, so much of my writing is, as well. Today, we went out to the soccer fields since Daddy had ...
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I've never been much of a rule breaker. I was incredibly fearful of my dad and saw my two older brothers get in trouble enough to know ...
I love names. I really think people become like their names... although, mine means "sea-farer" or something about a person who lives by the sea, and I live in dusty West Texas. Maybe some day!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are so strong and sure in your faith. So uplifting! Great post
I've been learning about all the different names God was called during the time of Jesus. The people called to Him with their need of the moment. It has had me thinking about the names I would call God during various times in my life.
ReplyDeleteGood morning. Just read this at 5:50am and it did my heart good. Never forget that we must first love ourselves, before we canever love our neighbor as ourself. Thanks for a wonderful start to my day.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dad. :-) And thank you for my beautiful name.
DeleteI too love names and the power they might just have to contribute to who we become. Taking names from the Bible and from strong family members who have passed is a longstanding tradition with merit for our children. They may just take after those we admire.
ReplyDeleteBoth of my children have biblical names or names that have biblical meanings. :-) It's important to me as well.
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