What's In a Name?

Rarely did my family have nicknames, but growing up I can fondly remember my mom leaving me little notes referring to me as "Jules"...and sometimes in an affectionate moment, calling me that as my name.  I would often hear girls despise their names. Somehow I never shared their disdain and didn't mind my name at all.  It wasn't until years later that I stumbled upon the true meaning of my name:  Julie, which means 'youthful spirit'.  The light bulbs came on as soon as I discovered this.  Memories of me randomly screaming in the shower or doing a 'yipee skippy' jump were brought to my remembrance by my mother.  I'm not saying I never had down days, but for the most part, I carried a light-hearted joy inside of me my entire life.  

Isn't it funny how just the simple discovery of the origin of your name can begin to ring true in the consistencies of your personality?  When I was pregnant with my first child there was a deep desire in me to give him a meaningful name from the bible.  I wanted to think about that meaning every time I called his name.  From the time of his birth and all throughout his growing up years, I continued to remind him of what his name meant and even would sing a song that correlated with that meaning.  Now that he is an adult, his very destiny has steered towards all of that definition as we continued to rehearse his given name from birth.  My husband and I continued to take deliberate time praying and thinking about what we should name each child as the Lord would see them.  Consistently, each of our boys have eventually become what was continually spoken over them by their birth name and the words we fondly spoke over them.

Remember each day to think about what you say to your children and what you choose to call them.  There are times when it may be frustrating to raise another human being with a will of his or her own.  But the rewards of continuous declaration over their lives are immensely great.  Their minds are like computer processors, receiving and chewing up data.  They will become what they are told.

Prov 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  

Julie