What's In A Name?

What’s In A Name?!

I’ve never really thought about my name.  Shelby.  It was given to me at birth and I have been perfectly happy with it throughout my life but never gave much thought as to what it meant.  I remember one time vaguely being invited to a friend’s house for a luncheon & Bible study. Nicely placed at each place setting was a name card that displayed our birth given name and the meaning of our name.  At which time apparently made no impact on me until now looking back realizing that I should have paid more attention when God was possibly showing me something in His plan He would have for me, that would bring me to today...His Plan for me that is much greater than I could have ever imagined. 

As I stated, it never came to light for me until a few weeks back when I was proudly discussing (as I do on a daily basis with anyone that will listen) Evan and Angeline and the adoption journey, that God has placed me on, did I learn the meaning of my name.  A dear colleague asked me how the process was going and I’m sure before he even had the sentence out of his mouth I was going 90 to nothing about these two little ones God has placed on my heart, interrupting he said, “ you do know what your name means don’t you?”  Of course I’m sure I had the dear in the headlight look as I responded sheepishly with my reply, “no”!  He proceeded to tell me that he loved the name Shelby and it was his daughters name and it meant:  SHELTERED OR A PLACE WHERE WILLOWS GROW. 

Wow-it gave me chills!  Oh how God is so in control!  Shelby = Sheltered!  And God knew before I was born that I would become a shelter for two Haitian children.  Oh what a beautiful picture in my mind.  Thank you God for choosing me to be a shelter for Evan and Angeline!

Then of course I went on to research the meaning of Evan:  GOD IS GRACIOUS! 

Oh how perfect!!  Just one more confirmation of how gracious God has been and is to me and now it’s even revealed in Evan’s namesake.  Can’t paint a more clear picture than that!   We as people are always asking God to speak to us and then get frustrated if we don’t feel He answers, (or maybe get the answer we want from Him).  We have to do our part in being aware and responsive to His answers.  Thank you God for making this one as plain as day for me!!

And of course I couldn’t stop there so the little research project was completed by discovering the meaning of Angeline:  MESSENGER OR ANGEL!  My sweet Angeline!!  Yup!  Once again, God nailed it!  What a perfect way for God to present to me His little Haitian daughter he is entrusting to me!!!  Every family needs a sweet angel to round out the family.  Thank you God once again for your many blessings and walking me through this journey of adoption!