What's In A Name?

Dear Mark and Luke,

Last night, as I was reading a book about the history of Scotland, I began to think about names of people and places. As I did I began to think about the meaning of your names. You see every name has a meaning behind it and when your mommy and daddy named you, they thought about the names they gave you.

Mark Garrett, you know that you were named for your Uncle Mark and the name Garrett came from both your daddy's family and from your mommy's grandfather's family. However, both of those names have special meaning. The name Mark means valiant warrior and was the name of one of the early church leaders, a man named John Mark. He is the one who wrote the Gospel of Mark. It is amazing to me that when he was young, John Mark went on a mission trip with Paul and later turned back and went home. That doesn't sound much like a valiant warrior to me, but then the Lord gave him renewed strength and courage and we later read about him boldly preaching the Gospel and even writing one of the Gospels! God can do amazing things when we let Him. Your middle name is Garrett and this means "he rules with a bold spear." Do you realize, Mark Garrett, that your whole name means "valiant warrior who rules with a bold spear?" It is my prayer for your life that you always be a valiant warrior for the Lord, with a bold spear that is the Truth of His Word! Remember your name little one!

Luke Patton, your name is very special too. Your name comes from your daddy's side of the family and also has a special meaning in the Bible. The name Luke comes from a man named Luke, who was a doctor and a leader in the early church. Luke wrote one of the Gospel accounts and the book of Acts. Luke's account of Jesus' life and the history of the early church are two of the most detailed, accurate and powerful accounts of those days that are in existence. They form much of the foundation of what we know and believe about the early history of Christianity. Luke travelled with the apostle Paul and was with him when he wrote many of the letters found in the New Testament. In fact, between Paul and Luke, the two of them wrote more than half the New Testament! The name Luke means "light." I believe that is an appropriate name for him and I pray for you. The name Patton is also very special and means "from the town of warriors." Your whole name means "light from the town of warriors." Luke, it is my prayer that you will always be a light that brings the true Light of the World to others as boldly as if you came from a town of warriors!

So when anyone asks, "What's in a name?", you can tell them what's in your name!

I love you,

Papaw