What's In A Name

A few Sundays ago, our youth pastor at church preached and he mentioned the importance of names. He and his wife named one of their daughters, Norah Blake. Norah means "shining light" and Blake means "dark." Yes, they named their daughter an oxymoron. It may sound like a strange combination, but after he explained it further, it made sense. He said that he and his wife pray that Norah Blake would be a shining light in a dark place.

After hearing that message, I realized that I didn't know what the meaning of my middle name. My first name, "Sara," means "princess." I already knew that meaning and laughed, considering the fact that I am a very unconventional "princess." I don't like what I call "girly colors" (pinks & purples) or being dressy all the time. In fact, I prefer greens, blues & yellows and would prefer to be outside hiking, if I had the choice.

I was surprised to find that my middle name, "Paige," means "young servant." I wonder if my parents realized that when they named me. You wouldn't think of a princess being a servant.

It's funny how I've lived up to the names my parents gave me. Even though I'm not a conventional, girly princess, I am a child of Christ. He sees me as the true person that I am. He looks past all the rough edges, pain, faults, and fears and sees straight to my heart.

God has really given me a heart for people. I love to serve others, especially behind the scenes when no one notices. It gives me joy to help out and I can't explain it other than it comes from God.

I remember as a kid, wishing I had a "cooler" name. I'd sit around thinking of a name I liked better than the one I was given. Strangely enough, no name that I came up with seemed to fit me. God knew that I was meant to be "Sara Paige," a serving princess. He knew the heart He would grow in me and what I would do with it. He had a reason for my name, even though I didn't understand it at the time. I pray I will continue to live up to the name I've been given, that I will be a humble and sacrificial servant.

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
~Philippians 2:5-8