What's in a Name?

Aiden Samuel. I thought I'd share a little about his beginning...the very beginning.

Last August, Shaun and I were talking about whether we should have a third baby. After one of those conversations, I went to bed and simply prayed, "Lord, what do you think?" The next morning I awoke at 5 to begin my usual morning routine. I headed down to the kitchen to make coffee and then pulled out my Bible to spend some time with God. I had no idea beforehand, but the chapter I was scheduled to read was I Samuel 1.

I began to read the words of Hannah:

11 She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life;

27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.

28 Therefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.

We don't have exactly parallel stories, as I have not ever felt the pain of infertility that Hannah and countless others have, nor was I particularly pleading for a son. But that morning, in the quiet of my kitchen, I felt God speak to me so clearly that we would have another child and that it would be a son.

The very same day there were two other non-biblical confirmations to let me know it'd truly been God's voice. I have to admit it scared me just a little to have felt that message so strongly.

Over the next several days as I was processing this, I began to think about the last verse of that chapter, Therefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord and I began to question God about what this "deal" meant.

I thought, Ok God, you are going to give us a child, a son...great. But, what does that mean that I have to give him to you? Will you send him to Africa as a missionary? Will he die at an early age?

I'm ashamed to admit these thoughts went through my head. How foolish and prideful for me to think that anything I have is "mine", especially my children. Or that I would have better plans for them than God. Or that He would have anything but the best in store for my son or daughters.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

So after taking several days to come to this realization, I began to get excited about what God had for this son that was not yet conceived. We have indeed given him to God, and will do so publicly at a dedication service in a couple months, and we believe God is going to use little Aiden Samuel and will raise him up to be a mighty man of God.

And Aiden? Well, when we were choosing Amanda's name, I knew I wanted to do all "A" names for our children. I didn't think it through far enough when we were naming Avery (and was certainly not thinking past one child!). I love her name, but I don't think I would have chosen the letter "A" if I'd known I was going to have to come up with two more names beginning with that. Girl A names are quite popular now and the selection is limited for boys.

Anyway, I was fine with most of the A names, but Aiden seemed to be my consistent favorite. I was hesitant because of its growing popularity, but in our circle there are no Aidens. I tried to choose what I thought was the most common way to spell it, although there are more than 20 ways to spell it. No kidding.

Aidan, Ayden, Aden, Aydan, Adan, Aydin, Aaden, Aidyn, Adin, Adian, Adyn, Auden, Adon, Aidon, Aidin, Adien, Aadyn, Aydon, Aayden, Aaiden

So there you have it. Oh, and in case you don't know the story of Hannah, she names her son... Samuel. :)