A rose by any other name would smell as sweet- or would it?

[Mrs.Somebody]

I read a post about the meaning of names in the book of Ruth and it got me to thinking, which then got me to writing.  See what you think. 

The post mentioned that the names of Ruth’s sons meant ‘frail’ and ‘sickly’.  Then raised the question did the names mean that when they were given to them at birth or come to mean that later due to them.  I choose to believe the sons were named that for a reason, particularly in those days.  Names were chosen because of their meaning not because of their spelling or how they sounded or because someone famous thought of it first!   

One example that comes to mind is the naming of Esau and Jacob. 

 Genesis 25:25- The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.

Genesis 25:26- After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 

Thinking of these twins and their birth names, I began to reflect on a set of twins I know best- Me and my twin.  Now, 45 years ago the doctors did not know WE- as in the two of us- existed.  Evidently our hearts were over one another and beat in a way as to be one heart beat.  But surprise, on our birthday there she was, following me out.

My parents had 1 name for a girl picked out- Joy Mi'Chelle- but had to come up with another name.  We were preemies and weighed less than 5 1bs.  She was 2.5 lbs. and kept in the hospital an additional 45 days.  They named her Hope Mi'Chelle and I was named Joy Le'Velle.  Four years later we have a bouncing baby sister delivered into our well ordered lives- named Love La'Reigne.  (Yeah I know unusual spellings of the middle names- My dad wanted something special)

As we grew- people would use our names to identify us- Joy, you are such a joy to have in class or Hope, I hope I see you next year. Poor Love.  Hers would go something like, Love,  loved having you in class. (She later confided to us how desperately she hated her name- when she signed cards it was Love, Love.) But the point is that we became identified with those names- JOY, HOPE, LOVE.

What I can tell you objectively about the other two is that they lived up to their name.  Hope, was the first to graduate college and used relied heavily on hope to do so- since there wasn't much money in the house.  She earned her Sociology degree and today she works for the State of TN in the capacity of a supervisor with Child Services.  But she started out as a case worker- and through her caring and commitment she offered HOPE to children who at times had none. Now as a mother to a pre-teen daughter, I think she is experiencing the meaning of hope in a new way- as in I hope she doesn't have a boyfriend soon.  

Love- to know her is to love her, to adore her.  Even as a child she was precocious and the baby that every one wanted to hold and love on.  She has an enchanting smile, and a captivating personality.  She was the one who was going to leave the home town behind and never look back- she's still there raising a family and taking care of our parents when they are in town.  She's an exceptional mother to a pre-teen son diagnosed with Autism when he was just a toddler.  But she works diligently with him to help him succeed.  She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl (destined to be just like her), during a nasty divorce and held onto her love of family and God as her shield and strength.  And during this time she steadfastly spoke love towards her Ex’s family through all the injustices of the divorce. It was more important that her children know the love of ALL their family.  She exhibited grace and love under extreme duress and God has blessed her with a loving husband and caring stepfather to her children.  Her life continues to be overflowing with the love of God, family and good friends.

Now- were these divine inspirations from God or did they grow into their names.  I guess it could be some of both - Some of it is the choice they made in life, but the bible tells us that our steps are ordered by God- so believing that  would it not follow that he knew what their lives would become and therefore named accordingly....    

This led me to wonder- what about today- when we choose our children’s names are we giving it prayerful consideration?  For hubby and me, choosing a name consisted of using it for several weeks while I grew into a whale and deciding if we were tired of it or not- and then getting us both to agree or at least one of us compromise.  We settled on Justin- I confess I liked the sound of the full name.  It seemed to flow.  I also liked the meaning- Justin a derivative of Justice- meaning fair, just or true. 

Now I freely admit that I tell the story that I agreed to that name because he came ‘just in’ time.  He was almost two weeks late and I couldn’t take it anymore.  However, as he grew into a little boy I thought more of the meaning of the name we chose for him.  Fair, Just, Truth.  There was so little of that in the world, surely he could use a little back up. 

As he entered day care and later school I noticed that this child was the one who got caught following the “leader of misdeeds” and the leader was no where around when he got caught. He was often left holding the bag alone.  His misdeeds never stayed hidden and it fostered in him a need to champion the underdog, to fight societal injustices.  He grew into a young man that wanted everyone to get along and was willing to work on an individual basis to bring just a little bit of peace to his corner of the world, and to make life a little better for someone less fortunate.  

Then he went to High School.  Well we all know that something takes over our children at this age- but still there’s a lingering need in him to point out all the injustices in his world- you know the ones I mean.  Everyone else gets to stay out late, everyone else gets to take their car to college, etc.. So again, I reflect on my sisters.  Hmm?  I had flown the nest and married by the time they were at this post high school level.  So how did they grow into their names?  I sure wish my parents would tell me.   Their advice would be ‘just in’ time to save my sanity.

 

[eminelson]

Feb. 16, 2008 at 4:03 PM

That is so neat, about you and your sisters names...and your son's name too..I believe the same way, that names can be an early declaration, a word that will last all through life of the child.   We named our daughter Abigail ('source of/Father's JOY'), and our son Caleb ('loyal', or 'dog' hee hee but the trait of loyalty/faithfulness) with the hope they would fill out their name as they grow like the people with those names in the Bible. 

ps: my middle name is Loraine, I like your sister's spelling better!

Nice post!!