Week 24 - HE HAS A NAME!!!

It is not easy choosing a name for your child.  Becky and I have always tried to pick strong names that give the child something to reach for or remember.  Becky and I each made a list of names that we liked and we then would look at the other’s list and then proceed to cross off all of the names that were not on our own list.  Some names we didn't like because they reminded us of childhood classmates. Some names we didn't like because they didn't seem to have a strong enough meaning.  Other names we just simply didn't like.  We whittled down our lists often to the point that we had nothing left.  We finally would make a second list together and could pick a couple of names that we would discuss for a few weeks until we had decided. 

We chose Micah for our firstborn because it means “Who is like God.”  We chose Josiah for our second son because it means “God will save.”  Naming the first two boys was fairly straight forward. The process for Zach was a little bit more difficult.  Since he has several abnormalities, it took us longer.  We felt like the name that we chose should be a reminder of the lesson God is teaching us at this time.  We chose Zachary because it means “Remembered by God”.  To some it might look like Zach got the genetic short stick but I think that this is another example of God providing a callback to Him.  This world we live in is fallen and sinful and God is the Ultimate Healer and Provider.  No more perfect an example of a callback to God than a precious innocent newborn that will always have life altering defects. 

His middle name of Caleb means “Whole Hearted”.  Despite the fact that Zach will only be able to utilize half of his heart, we felt that we encourage others (and ourselves) with the promise that God is whole heartedly remembering us.  He is always thinking about us. 

Just because we chose these names does not mean that we are more spiritual than the next pregnant couple.  It just means that we want to have a daily reminder of the character of God.  What better way to do this than a word that we will use 80 times a day when we call out for our son.