Baby names are as diverse as the people to whom they are given. Choosing the right name for your baby can be a very challenging yet fun exercise! This is my story.
Before I was married I used to work as a midwife in a Labor Ward. I have helped deliver over 1,000 babies. It was an awesome feeling every time I placed the baby in the mother's arms for the first time. Often I would ask, 'What's your baby's name?' The mother would look up at me with such pride and say, 'His (or her) name is....'. I loved sharing their joy. Seeing the mother snuggle up to her baby and announcing her baby's name!
I was destined to be married! An unmistakable inner thought filled my mind at the age of sixteen. I knew then that I would do nurses' training, two years of bible college and then I would get married and go to Ethiopia as a missionary.
Bill, my husband-to-be, had been a single missionary in Ethiopia for five years. While praying one time, a strong impression came to him that God would give him a wife when he returned to Australia on leave. Bill stopped in Singapore on the way home and bought the engagement and wedding rings. He had just enough money left to buy a watch, and the brand name of the watch was "Rebekah". As Bill was reading the story of Rebekah in the Bible, this verse stood out "Just as I led Abraham's servant to find a wife for Isaac, I will lead you to your future wife." (Genesis, chapter 24) Hang in there! I am telling you this story so that you will understand why we named one of our daughters Rebecca!
Bill arrived back in Australia and decided to visit the bible college where he had trained. On the way, Bill heard an inner voice saying, "She is in the college." He prayed a prayer similar to Abraham's servant, "Lord, let it be the first girl I meet." I was the first girl he met! We were so sure of God's plan for our lives that the next time we met we were engaged.
A few months later we were married and on our way as newly weds to work in an isolated area southwest of the capital, Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia. After three challenging years we flew home because of the imminent birth of our eldest child. We named her Leanne Maree. Leanne was a name we always wanted if we had a girl. Maree was chosen because the night we were engaged we went to see the movie, 'The Sound of Music' and Maree was our modern version of Maria in the musical.
We were back in Ethiopia for the birth of our second child. An American doctor helped bring Carolyn Joy into the world, in a remote Ethiopian hospital. To minimize the risk of infection, the doctor advised me to only stay in the hospital for one hour after giving birth. The nicest thing about the experience was bringing our little bundle of joy home! Carolyn Joy was named after the doctor's daughter.
With each pregnancy we expected a boy! We wanted to call him Peter, because Peter's character in the Bible reminded me of myself. He was outgoing, loving, passionate and spoke his mind. We did not have ultrasound in Ethiopia to determine the sex of the baby so we anxiously waited to see if we would have a Leanne or Peter. When Carolyn was coming it was Carolyn or Peter. I was pregnant again when we left Ethiopia at the beginning of the communist's occupation. This time it would be Peter Andrew or Rebecca Grace. Rebecca Grace won ? she was named after Bill's watch brand, Rebekah, and Grace is my second name!
With three beautiful girls we both agreed that Peter was not to be! Until one night I was reading from the Bible and these words stood out, "Next year you will have a son." Peter Andrew was born nine months later.
No doubt if you are having a child or have had children you can tell a story of how you came to choose your baby's name. Choosing the right baby name is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make in life.
Talking of names! Another big decision you will have to make is whether you will have your name written down in Heaven. The Bible says clearly that the moment you come alive spirituality and become God's child your name is written down in Heaven. When you become his child, your name is recorded in his family register. A cartoon flash presentation on my website (www.ydyc.org) will show you how you can become God's child and have your name written down in Heaven. You can be sure of your final destiny.
Wilma Watson is the producer of the cartoon website: http://www.ydyc.org
She has a passion to help people reach their maximum potential through making spirituality simple and fun.
Choosing the right name for your baby can be a very challenging yet fun exercise! This her my story.
Many reasons will cause some people to feel the need... Read More
Sometime the most effective training tool in rapidly accelerating the... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
Our children are our most important legacy to the world.... Read More
As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about... Read More
You have a chore to do around the house, and... Read More
Since so many would rather avoid the use of stimulant... Read More
Does the homework battle so typical with your hyperactive or... Read More
1. Encourage your babysitter by keeping their favorite foods/snacks on... Read More
Strollers offer a wonderful and convenient service to parents and... Read More
An estimated five million scooters will be sold this year... Read More
Having been a parent educator and a PBS consultant for... Read More
I have been a single mom for almost 20 years.... Read More
Every now and then I'll get a story sent to... Read More
I look out of the window as I am writing... Read More
Jason Meridith's two-year old son whines when he wants more... Read More
Think back to your own childhood. Chances are, some of... Read More
In today's mental health system there is a pattern of... Read More
Wooden toys are one of the best alternatives for the... Read More
"Will my doubts and fears affect my child?" This father... Read More
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
Mother's Day is important for children.This Mother's Day take note... Read More
My daughters and I went to the beach several weeks... Read More
Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for... Read More
I will cherish this moment. I will not let it... Read More
I had my first two children on either side of... Read More
Have you ever had this struggle with your teens? Did... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
You send your child to school and the teachers teach... Read More
My thirteen-year-old daughter recently called me up to say she... Read More
As part of the whole-language (or "balanced") reading-instruction philosophy, many... Read More
Did you know there's a game children and parents play... Read More
Q. With the school year just beginning, what can we... Read More
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested... Read More
In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint... Read More
In the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo's father, Marlyn asks the... Read More
If your child or teen has been diagnosed with Attention... Read More
Bedtime and children's sleep habits can cause nightmares - for... Read More
There is little doubt that reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are... Read More
Kids today no longer live the kind of privileged lives... Read More
? Let the child choose his or her own lunch... Read More
Each child carries a unique picture of the self, shaped... Read More
Ever feel like you're out of the loop when it... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
One of the most difficult struggles in life for a... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
Dear Camille,As I thumb through the photographs that I carry... Read More
The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been... Read More
Being consistent when children are less than perfect can make... Read More
We adopted our first child when he was three months... Read More
Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More
Coupons can be a great tool in educating your child... Read More
Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More
Do you have a high maintenance child?"Thank goodness my second... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
Dear Vijay,I worry about not being a good parent. My... Read More
Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More
Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood.... Read More
Q. Things have been relatively calm and OK with our... Read More
Join a growing number of parents and teachers!Fact: Last year,... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
Teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school,... Read More
In today's fast-paced society, many families depend on some form... Read More
Isn't it ironic that a country whose constitution allows for... Read More
Parenting |