It was a little rough trying to get the kids to sleep. My two foster children are still adjusting but I think tonight went better than last night. I've heard from training that whatever age you get your foster children, they bond with you in similar stages as newborns. The youngest we have is turning three in a couple weeks. She won't sleep unless I lay with her. She rolls over and nestles her head on my chest so she can hear my heart beating. She wants to lay on me the same way my newborns did. I always loved that so it feels comfortable for me.
Tonight, after I finally got the younger one asleep. I walked into the bedroom of the older foster child. sat at his bedside, and chatted with him for a while. I did the same last night too. He doesn't feel comfortable with me touching him and that's to be expected. No back scratches for now, but I discovered that letting him have conversations with me, letting him ask questions, sort-of almost rocks him to sleep with words.
Tonight, we got on the topic of names and their meanings. He asked what all my children's names meant. He asked what mine meant... I said, "Alicia means queenly, truthful, or noble."
"I don't see a crown on your head," he responded.
"No, you're right."
"What does your middle name mean?"
"My middle name is Ruth and it means friend."
"Hmm" he paused for a moment. "What does my name mean?" He asked inquisitively pointing to himself.
"I don't know, I'll have to look it up,"I said.
"Can you look it up now?"
"Sure, I'll be right back."
I went to the computer and searched his name and returned with a smile on my face.
"What does my name mean?" He asked me again.
"It's really cool. You'll like it."
"Really!" He sat up again, eager to hear.
I winked at him, "It means, 'Prince' and your middle name means 'bright and shining. So, you are a bright and shining prince."
His eyes danced with delight. "Does my name really mean prince?"
I nodded.
"I want to go search all my friends names and see what they mean. Can I do it now?"
"No, it's past 11:30... but that would be something we could do tomorrow."
I stepped out of his room and wished the bright and shining prince goodnight.
He tucked back under his covers and shyly peeked at me. He's cute.
-Alicia
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Showing posts with label Names. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Names. Show all posts
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Living Up to the Name
In Young Women's last Sunday, Sister Taylor gave a wonderful lesson. She started out by going around the room and asking the girls what each of their names meant. It was fun to hear all of the girls share their stories.
My daughter explained that her first name was after the sister of Moses and also the Hebrew version of Mary. In the Bible Dictionary, Miriam means "exalted." Miriam's middle name is McKay, named after President David O. McKay because he was the prophet at the time my mom joined the Church, and it serves as a reminder for her to always follow the words of the living prophets. My first name, Alicia, means "noble, queenly, or truthful" and my middle name is the same as my mom's middle name which was given to remember Ruth in the Bible. Ruth means "friend" because of the loyalty she showed to her mother-in-law after they both became widows. "And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."- Ruth 1:16
A name is powerful! In a flash, it can conjure up images, stories, memories, experiences, or lessons. It is how we identify, honor, remember, and respect people, places, and things.
Helaman, an ancient Book of Mormon prophet, intentionally named his sons Nephi and Lehi for specific reasons. He said to them, "Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.
Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them." - Helaman 5:6,7
Helaman wanted his sons to remember these great men the same as we want our children to remember those who they are named after. He knew the names of Nephi and Lehi would impress upon their minds a remembrance of those who were of great faith, those who were willing to follow whatsoever the Lord commanded them, to be witnesses of Christ, to bear testimony and preach the Gospel to a hardened people, to leave behind everything they had and "step out into the unknown" with full unflinching trust in God. Generations through time and eternity would remember those men. Their stories were written down, and what was recorded on earth was also sealed in heaven. (D&C 127:7)
So a key purpose for Helaman naming his sons after the first Nephi and Lehi was to serve as a reminder to do good and to be good, that it could ALSO be written and recorded of his sons that they had "lived up to the names" they were given. As parents, we have the same desire. We want our children to take pride in their names, to remember their heritage, and live up to those who have gone before.
But, about that "taking pride in." I find the next few verses very interesting:
"And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven" (Helaman 5:8)
Why was there a concern that this could end up being something they could potentially become prideful about? Because, isn't it true that when we "do good" and it is noticed, recorded or said of us that we "are good," that we have a natural tendency to start focusing on "how good we are?"
In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis gives a perfect illustration of this: The Satan figure, Uncle Screwtape, is teaching his nephew, Wormwood, how to destroy a Christian;
"Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is especially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, 'By jove! I’m being humble', and almost immediately pride—pride at his own humility—will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt—and so on, through as many stages as you please"
Helaman understood this "natural man" tendency, to become focused on all the good that we do.
Note that in the next verse he counsels,"O remember, remember, my sons, the words which King Benjamin spake unto his people" (Helaman 5:9)
He brings them back to the words of King Benjamin.
And what was it that he taught?
He said:
"I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness and His goodness.... and humble yourselves... calling on the name of the Lord daily." (Mosiah 4:11) "There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:8.)
No matter how incredible those men and women were that we are named after or that we name our children after...
No matter all the good that was written or spoken of them...
No matter all the good that might be written or spoken of us...
No matter how well we may live up to their name, as good and honorable as that may be...
We must always remember that there is only One who is truly wholly good and that Salvation is only "in and through [His name] the name of Christ." (Mosiah 3:17)
This was the lesson Helaman was trying to teach to his sons. It is a lesson for all of us. I was grateful when Sister Taylor brought her Sunday lesson around and focused it on our covenant at baptism, to take upon ourselves Christ's name.
Every Sunday we renew this covenant as we partake of the sacrament.
I must ask myself...
How am I doing throughout the week? What is my intent? Am I concerned about people remembering me, noticing me, and seeing the good that I do?
Or... am I focused on my covenant to remember Him and help others do the same?
How do I live up to the most important Name I will ever take upon myself?
I testify that God loves us. There is none that is greater than He. (1 John 4:4) When He is our focus, when we live up to His name, we will find the greatest treasures in Heaven.
-Alicia
My daughter explained that her first name was after the sister of Moses and also the Hebrew version of Mary. In the Bible Dictionary, Miriam means "exalted." Miriam's middle name is McKay, named after President David O. McKay because he was the prophet at the time my mom joined the Church, and it serves as a reminder for her to always follow the words of the living prophets. My first name, Alicia, means "noble, queenly, or truthful" and my middle name is the same as my mom's middle name which was given to remember Ruth in the Bible. Ruth means "friend" because of the loyalty she showed to her mother-in-law after they both became widows. "And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."- Ruth 1:16
A name is powerful! In a flash, it can conjure up images, stories, memories, experiences, or lessons. It is how we identify, honor, remember, and respect people, places, and things.
Helaman, an ancient Book of Mormon prophet, intentionally named his sons Nephi and Lehi for specific reasons. He said to them, "Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.
Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them." - Helaman 5:6,7
Helaman wanted his sons to remember these great men the same as we want our children to remember those who they are named after. He knew the names of Nephi and Lehi would impress upon their minds a remembrance of those who were of great faith, those who were willing to follow whatsoever the Lord commanded them, to be witnesses of Christ, to bear testimony and preach the Gospel to a hardened people, to leave behind everything they had and "step out into the unknown" with full unflinching trust in God. Generations through time and eternity would remember those men. Their stories were written down, and what was recorded on earth was also sealed in heaven. (D&C 127:7)
So a key purpose for Helaman naming his sons after the first Nephi and Lehi was to serve as a reminder to do good and to be good, that it could ALSO be written and recorded of his sons that they had "lived up to the names" they were given. As parents, we have the same desire. We want our children to take pride in their names, to remember their heritage, and live up to those who have gone before.
But, about that "taking pride in." I find the next few verses very interesting:
"And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven" (Helaman 5:8)
Why was there a concern that this could end up being something they could potentially become prideful about? Because, isn't it true that when we "do good" and it is noticed, recorded or said of us that we "are good," that we have a natural tendency to start focusing on "how good we are?"
In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis gives a perfect illustration of this: The Satan figure, Uncle Screwtape, is teaching his nephew, Wormwood, how to destroy a Christian;
"Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is especially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, 'By jove! I’m being humble', and almost immediately pride—pride at his own humility—will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt—and so on, through as many stages as you please"
Helaman understood this "natural man" tendency, to become focused on all the good that we do.
Note that in the next verse he counsels,"O remember, remember, my sons, the words which King Benjamin spake unto his people" (Helaman 5:9)
He brings them back to the words of King Benjamin.
And what was it that he taught?
He said:
"I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness and His goodness.... and humble yourselves... calling on the name of the Lord daily." (Mosiah 4:11) "There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:8.)
No matter how incredible those men and women were that we are named after or that we name our children after...
No matter all the good that was written or spoken of them...
No matter all the good that might be written or spoken of us...
No matter how well we may live up to their name, as good and honorable as that may be...
We must always remember that there is only One who is truly wholly good and that Salvation is only "in and through [His name] the name of Christ." (Mosiah 3:17)
This was the lesson Helaman was trying to teach to his sons. It is a lesson for all of us. I was grateful when Sister Taylor brought her Sunday lesson around and focused it on our covenant at baptism, to take upon ourselves Christ's name.
Every Sunday we renew this covenant as we partake of the sacrament.
I must ask myself...
How am I doing throughout the week? What is my intent? Am I concerned about people remembering me, noticing me, and seeing the good that I do?
Or... am I focused on my covenant to remember Him and help others do the same?
How do I live up to the most important Name I will ever take upon myself?
I testify that God loves us. There is none that is greater than He. (1 John 4:4) When He is our focus, when we live up to His name, we will find the greatest treasures in Heaven.
-Alicia
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