What's in a Name?

One of the most significant things we parents give our children is a name.  I'm not just talking about deciding whether to call the new little bundle Alex or Aaron, but about discerning who he is and communicating that to him.  This concept of "naming" sounds new to our modern ears, but it's been around for a while.  In the Bible we see God changing the names of his servants (Abram to Abraham, Saul to Paul, Simon to Peter etc.) to reflect their calling.  Ever since Adam (the first man) was assigned to name the animals, humans have been reflecting God's nature by naming.

Whenever a teacher or parent tells a child, "You know, you're really good at ______" or "You have a gift for _______," they are naming the child.  I remember a Mathematics professor in college telling me about the gift he saw in me with Math.  A high school Spanish teacher likewise pointed out how easily the language came to me.  I grew up to become a Math and Spanish teacher.  Those two helped name me.

As parents we are called to name our children in more varied and significant ways than just helping them pick a vocation.  The Bible admonishes us to "train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6; emphasis added).  Dr. Allender suggests in How Children Raise Parents that naming a child is seeking out his natural bent.  What separates him from others?  What are his strengths and weaknesses?  What call of God do you sense on his life?

As we discover our child's name, we are then able to "train him up" in accordance with who he is.  We can give him opportunities to overcome weaknesses and grow in areas of strength.  We can inspire him by letting him know the gifts and callings we see in his life.  What a joy to help him grow into a man who knows his purpose.

RESOURCES
How Children Raise Parents
The Bible