Week 19-Could a Name Define Who We Really Are?(Week 19) 2016

Happy Birthday Kylee Grace (5/11)!

Kylee Grace 2016

Happy  Birthday Chapin (5/7)

Chapin 2016

If you are confused, please don’t check out just yet.

Let me back up a bit and introduce some of the bravest ladies I know.

Aunt Katie (me), Chapin and (soon to make her debut) Kylee Grace (2012)

Just over 4 years ago, I had the great honor of celebrating with my niece, Chapin, at her baby shower.  We were celebrating Chapin’s precious life and the life of her “soon to make her debut” daughter, Kylee Grace.

Grand-Aunt Katie (I like that Title:) and the Birthday Girl, Kylee Grace, 4 years ago (2012)

This day was one of my defining moments, although I may not have known it at the time.

Hindsight often illuminates the gold that is missed in past moments.

But what does all of this have to do with our names and who we really are?  Let me explain.

For a surprise birthday present, I decided to paint precious Kylee for Chapin this year.  As I painted and prayed over Kylee, I felt my heart stirred surrounding her “name.”

Thus,

the GOOGLE search began!

What does the name Kylee mean?

If you do not already know, prepare to be amazed:

BOOMERANG

Why did that make my heart sing?

Have you heard of the law of sowing and reaping?

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Gal 6:7

“The one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward” (Proverbs 11:18b), but “whoever sows injustice reaps calamity” (Proverbs 22:8a).

Kylee’s middle name is GRACE!

Do you see it?

Kylee’s name literally means A BOOMERANG OF GRACE!

Her name defines who God purposed her to be. She is one who sows grace and grace returns to her.  She is only 4 but  from the moment she was conceived, her little life had a gigantic, grace ripple effect on our family.

When she enters the room, every hard edge that may have existed before completely disappears and GRACE flavors, GRACE salts the scene!

Let me take you back one generation and once again blow your socks off!

Chapin is the fearless mama of “Boomerang of Grace.”

Do you know what Chapin means?

I did not.

Chapin literally means “clergyman,” which led me to synonyms for “clergyman.”

“man/woman of God”

My rockin’, fearless niece, Chapin, is A WOMAN OF GOD who gave birth to a “BOOMERANG OF GRACE.”

And my world is all the better because of them!

The names their parents gave them were from God, whether they knew it or not.

Their names define who they are created to be.

Their names define who they really are!

The words that are spoken over us can bring death or life.

My birthday gift to my niece and grandniece this year are words of life, and a painting!

Happy Birthday “Woman of God”-I pray you like the painting of “Boomerang of Grace.”

I am praying their names over them and I am calling out their God-given potential.  They reflect the image of their Heavenly Father and they reap what they sow.

Women of God sowing seeds of Grace!

If you do not already know what your name means, I encourage you to look it up.  I believe you will be pleasantly surprised and encouraged to live into the divine purpose God has for your life.

BUT

If you happen to look up your name and do not like the label you have been given, take heart.

God changed Jacob’s name, which meant “deceiver”, to “Israel”, meaning “contender” or “fighter” and is often said to mean “prince” or “prevailer.”

The final word on who we are is found in Christ alone, but our names can be prophetic as to the calling on our life.

I wrote this poem a while back but felt it was a perfect time to share again.  I think you will see why.

SOW WHAT

Sow “making a difference”, not indifference.

Sow a smile, not a frown.

Sow a compliment, not an insult.

Sow a hug, not a cold shoulder.

Sow eye contact, not rolling eyes.

Sow a helping hand, not “hands off”.

Sow encouragement, not discouragement.

Sow “others first”, not “me me me”.

Sow forgiveness, not grudges.

Sow a listening ear, not constant babbling.

Sow a gentle response, not an abrasive come back.

Sow compassion, not a “turned back”.

Sow open hands, not clinched fists.

Sow sincerity, not sarcasm.

Sow availability, not busyness.

Sow patience, not impatience.

Sow kindness, not contempt.

Sow joy, not self-pity.

Sow peace, not chaos.

Sow love, not hate.

We reap what we sow!

SO,

What do we sow?

May this list of sowing possibilities inspire you to add to it! Our “good seed sowing” options are endless! Get creative and see what a difference one tiny seed can make!

What kind of “boomerang” will you be?

Dear God,

Thank you that we get to sow into this garden called “life.”  Please help me choose what I sow very carefully, letting YOUR WORD direct my “seed sowing choices.”  I love YOU and I praise YOU for those you have put in my life who have planted and watered YOUR SEEDS into me. May they grow and may I not become weary in doing good, so that a harvest will be reaped for YOUR GLORY in YOUR time!

Thank you Lord for the “Woman of God” You gave me like a daughter and for the “boomerang of grace” she sowed into this family!

GoGod

Grand-aunt Katie