Child Naming- What does your name mean?

Posted on March 17, 2011. Filed under: Children, Family | Tags: child naming, meanings of names, names |

Last Sunday Cris and I enjoyed having lunch with some friends. The topic of naming children came up, as one couple had a three-month-old precious baby girl. We discussed our names and what they meant. My name, Lindsey comes from the Old English word Linden tree. The Linden tree stands firm with its “pillar-like” trunk and divides outward with branches containing heart-shaped leaves. The Linden tree produces fragrant flowers that are used medicinally for colds, fevers, headaches and high blood pressure.

Two days after discussing names, my attention was caught by a picture of a tree I had drawn in the book of Jeremiah. The tree was next to the Bible passage Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” I want to be like a steady tree trusting in the Lord as I draw life from God’s living water (John 4:10, Jeremiah 2:13). I pray that we will learn how to trust in the Lord. If we do trust in God, there will be fruit from our actions. 1. Our relationship will be strengthened. We will grow closer to our father who is worthy of trust. 2. Our faith will be strengthened. We will see God work in wondrous ways. 3. Our testimony will be strengthened. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Last Sunday, the mother told us the three-month-old baby’s name was “Lily.” They named her this because the mother had a tendency to worry. She was also very worried throughout the pregnancy. They named her “Lily” to be a constant reminder that God takes care of us. Matthew 6:25-34 says:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, o you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”