Names...

Name… Everybody gets one at birth. For us gals, most of us get a name change when we marry. Some folks get a name for themselves…whether a name for good or not so good…

In my religious heritage, the name of the church was an important issue. I mean the name that is on the sign out front. I have heard lots of sermons about names. I have come to understand that the only name that is important in that regard is the Name of Jesus the Christ. But, some folks are convinced otherwise, so whatever….

When we named our children, we considered lots of options. But we never thought past the sound of the name. Frequently, we didn’t like a name because it reminded us of someone else.

In scripture, names were very important, and had lots of meaning. They were words…they communicated something. Often, they indicated something to come to pass about the child….prophetic.

Hanna named her son Shmuel, in English spelled Samuel. It comes from the two Hebrew words ‘shama’ meaning to hear, and ‘el’ meaning almighty, which referred to diety. Samuel means heard of God. Hanna had no children, prayed fervently for a child, and she heard from God an answer to her prayer, conceived and bore a son. (1 Samuel 1:20)

Jesus, Jehovah saves. Immanuel, God with us.

Eve, Noah, Moses….I could write dozens of examples like this.

Have we lost something in the way we name our children? Maybe, maybe not….

When our youngest grand-daughter was to be born, the name was discussed almost every day. I can’t explain to you the why of it, but I knew her name. Her name was Caroline. I finally gave my suggestion, and eventually announced to my precious children that I would be calling this unborn child Caroline until I was told differently and informed of the name she would be given.

I looked the name up one day, and upon reading what the name means, was even more convinced that Caroline was indeed her name…… she was a ‘bringer of joy’.

And indeed she was and is.

Connie…. ?

“constant; steadfast”