A name can be something that defines us. Or something we yearn to live up to. When I think of names, I think of them more as the person who owns that name. I think of how many there are and how incredibly difficult it would be to know all of them. Let alone to know the person themselves. A name is more than just a couple letters strung together to create a few syllables and a pretty sound. A name is used to describe our identity and person, so that we might be known for something. For something bigger and greater than ourselves. We all have the incredible privilege to use our name for the glory of the one who made us. God. Using every circumstance and opportunity to spread the love of Christ throughout the world, so that his name might be known-not ours. Names.

There are so many people in this world. So many, that sometimes people don’t see the value or purpose of their name. It’s incredible to me that God would be able to know each of us by name and have the ability and the mind beyond our understanding to truly know us- even before we were given a name or entered this world. We’re all different, but yet all have something in common. We’re given one at the time of birth. Before we have the chance to grow into them or them into us. They aren’t just a label. They have meanings. Meanings that sometimes are shocking in how they can be freakishly descriptive of the person they are given to. They have purposes. Each having the power to leave an impact on peoples lives. Names.

I’ve always been secretly envious of my sister - not particularly for her name itself, but for the meaning behind the name. Patricia Anne. It just glides off the tongue, with history and grace. She was named after both of my Grandmothers. Whereas I never thought I was named after anything in particular. Maybe a pig, a Shakespeare character, or popeye's girlfriend. I learned that I was named for the biblical meaning and effortless sound that it makes. The journey parents go through to decide the perfect one for their baby, is a long and well thought through one. At the end of the journey, the name they choose is just a name, but with that name that newborn has a chance in life to make a difference. Names.

It’s a love it or leave it, type of thing. Thankfully, I wouldn’t change my name for anything. Even though I wasn’t named after my Grandmothers’...or Popeye's girlfriend. I was named for the biblical meaning, beauty, and ease that it portrays as it gently weaves itself out of the mouth. It sits on the tongue, to be debated by many whether or not to pronounce the “O” or be lazy and pronounce it incorrectly with an “A”. Yet, I love my name. The effortless sound and indifferent meaning. I want to use my name and life to live up to its meaning as much as I can. In English, my name means army of elves. Snap a mental image of an elf army. Now take that image and add peace, fruitfulness, and dignity. Now you have my name---weird, quirky, and unique. Olivia.

We all have the incredible privilege to use our name for the glory of the one who made us. God. Using every circumstance and opportunity to spread the love of Christ throughout the world, so that his name might be known-not ours. Names.
It’s incredible to me that God would be able to know each of us by
name and have the ability and the mind beyond our understanding to truly know
us--even before we were given a name or entered this world.

I’ve always been secretly envious of my sister - not particularly for her name itself, but for the meaning behind the name. Patricia Anne. It just glides off the tongue, with history and grace. She was named after both of my Grandmothers. Whereas I
never thought I was named after anything in particular. Maybe a pig, a
Shakespeare character, or popeye's girlfriend. I learned that I was named for
the biblical meaning and effortless sound that it makes. The journey parents go
through to decide the perfect one for their baby, is a long and well thought
through one. At the end of the journey, the name they choose is just a name,
but with that name that newborn has a chance in life to make a difference.

Names.

It’s a love it or leave it, type of thing. Thankfully, I wouldn’t
change my name for anything. Even though I wasn’t named after my
Grandmothers’...or Popeye's girlfriend. I was named for the biblical meaning,
beauty, and ease that it portrays as it gently weaves itself out of the mouth.
It sits on the tongue, to be debated by many whether or not to pronounce the
“O” or be lazy and pronounce it incorrectly with an “A”. Yet, I love my name.
The effortless sound and indifferent meaning. I want to use my name and life to
live up to its meaning as much as I can. In English, my name means army of
elves. Snap a mental image of an elf army. Now take that image and add peace, fruitfulness, and dignity. Now you have my name---weird, quirky, and unique. Olivia.