What is in a name? No really, what is in a name?
In the movie Elizabethtown, there is a scene where the depressed main character meets a chipper flight attendant and they proceed to have a conversation that revolves around names. She tells him that she is a “scholar of names” and they rapid fire make judgments about people based off their names. Like when she says “I’ve never met a Mitch I didn’t like”.
Back in Bible times, people were given names usually based on circumstance. For example, Essau means “heel” because he was born grasping his brother’s foot as he came into the world. Naomi (“pleasant”) changed her name after Elimelek died to Mara, which means “bitter”. And after David committed adultery and Bathsheba miscarried her first of David’s sons, her next son was named Jedidiah (“loved by the Lord”).
Names have power. Their meanings have power and I believe it is something Americans tend to forget. Your name certainly doesn’t predestine you toward a certain lifestyle, but I do believe it plays a part.
I was named after my two great grandmothers on either side of my family. Lydia is my paternal great grandmother and Louise is my maternal great grandmother. Besides the honor of carrying on their names, I absolutely love the meanings. Lydia was a strong female powerhouse in Acts 16, being the first convert (a WOMAN- *gasp*) in Philippi, a seller of purple cloth and a hospitable and giving woman. She made Paul feel at home and cared for, both physically and spiritually.
When I was in middle school, I went off to camp (Camp Cherith) for a week of all girls Christian summer camp, which I looked forward to every year. This particular year, I had a counselor who made us each personalized notecards in the shape of a butterfly that had our first and middle names on them, along with the meanings and several Bible verses. I never had explored much into my middle name up until that point. But that day I found out what a “Louise” is.
She is “famous in battle”.
Wow.
It sounds so victorious, so strong. And as silly as it sounds, I have taken a liking to it. Because battles are messy and scary. They are bloody and sad. They are aggravating and tempt you to give up. But they also show our great need for our Savior and allow His power to make us victorious, famous and strong.
So when hard times come or frustrating days or when I am just feeling overwhelmed, I try to remember this. That the Lord promised that we only need to be still. That He will conquer our enemies and fight our battles.
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14