Much thought and research went into naming our children. Each of our kids have names with significant meanings. From studying the Old Testament, I know the importance that was allotted to names and their meanings in Bible-times, and we have tried to carefully pray over the names of our children before (and after :) ) they were born.
My parents thoughtfully named me too. Margaret means "pearl." The Bible talks about the pearl of great price for which it is worth selling all (Matt. 13:46). Pearls are referred to as precious (Matt 7:6, Rev. 21:21). But my mom reminds me constantly that a pearl is created by the minor, sandy irritations that rub and develop its beautiful luster inside the oyster. This past month has been LOADED with lots of tiny irritations: no home phone for 3 weeks and hours upon hours on the cell phone to fix it, a computer crash, M traveling extensively, cell phone issues, a fender bender, family sicknesses, cranky children, etc. and this week when I thought all had calmed down, we have dealt with rooms destroyed multiple times by my two year old, an "intentionally" broken drinking glass, repeated disobedience, diaper blowouts, torn up books, etc. Most of this is pretty unimportant, in and of themselves. In fact, compared to friends' life- threatening sicknesses, losing a child, disintegrating marriages, legal wrangles, losing a job... it is very minor indeed. Nonetheless, all together they are exhausting and quite discouraging. As I mentioned to a friend last week, God is gracious to not let me get too comfortable in my own abilities. He keeps me crying out to Him. It is the little irritations that will make me beautiful. I earnestly desire to squelch my grumbling, be filled with the Lord's joy and become that pearl of great price.
But as my mom and I joked, why couldn't she have named me something like "good times are here to stay"???
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