The Name

Before we find out the gender of our new arrival, we already had both of our names picked out. I had liked the name Silas for a long time because of his role in the NT(before a husband was in the picture) and was thankful that JP was open to the idea. We threw around some other names though because I wasn't fully convinced by the meaning of Silas. I really like names with strong meanings, and Silas means "man of the forest". This isn't a bad meaning but it seemed kind of silly. One morning while I was praying for our baby and thinking about names, Jeremiah 17:7-8 came to my mind.

"Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord, for he will be like a tree planted by the waters that extends its roots by the stream, and he will not fear when the heat comes but its leaves will be green and it will not grow anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit."

That sealed it for me. This verse reminded me of the forest, and this would be my prayer for my child. Thus we were set on Silas.

The middle name was a little more difficult for us to settle on. We made a list of Bible names with strong meanings and also some family names (none of which had strong meanings). I was leaning toward Charles because I wanted to honor my grandfather, JP was leaning more toward a Bible name. I decide to leave the decision up to JP- and the wonderful husband I have decided to honor my grandfather and go with Charles.

Charles means- "manly" or "free man". The verse we chose to go along with his middle name is Galatians 5:1- "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery."

So- Silas Charles it is!! I can't wait 'til he gets here.