Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The Name Game

In a few months, Lord willing, there will be another little Gardner living out in the world, breathing, crying, giggling and pooping. One of the most exciting parts of expecting a baby is choosing the perfect name for the little unborn person. It’s really amazing to consider that the name the Joshua and I choose for our baby is the name that he will carry for the rest of his life. It’s the name we will use to talk to him. It’s the name his spouse will one day call him by. And it’s the name that God will use when He speaks to His child. So this whole naming thing is a big deal.


We see often in the Bible that when God would name someone the name had a very specific meaning (Abraham, for example). So Joshua and I have tried choose names for our children that have specific meanings as well.


Lily got her name from Matthew 6:28-30 “...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even King Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
When I was pregnant with her we were still newlyweds and we didn’t have a lot of money so we knew that things were going to be tight financially. But we knew that God would provide for us and so we trusted and hoped in Him. And so Lily Hope was born and we have never wanted for anything.


Malachi means “my messenger.” We are convinced that God has big plans for Malachi. Whether he grows up to be a pastor or a missionary or a janitor mopping floors at a hospital- he will bring the glorious news of the Gospel to the people around him.


So what are we going to name this next baby? Well, the possibilities will stay a secret for now, but we would really appreciate prayer so that we would have wisdom in choosing a good name for our precious baby. This child will be a warrior and child of God and we want him to have a name that reflects his awesome calling.

3 comments:

Jeremy Beach said...

Ooh, ooh...is the warrior comment a hint? You're going to name your baby Chewbacca aren't you?

Adiel said...

Sorry, Jeremy, we already have a Chewy in the family. He's a beat up teddy bear that's losing his nose from being chewed on so much. I’m afraid if we name our baby Chewy,too, then Malachi would get confused and start chewing on him. That might be humorous and make for some cute pictures, but not so good in the long run.

Anonymous said...

If you name him/her "Isosceles", I will never speak to you again.

(Yes, someone actually named a child this.)