Names and their Meanings

Ever since I was very young, my parents made sure that I knew the meaning of my name. They believed that it was important to give us (their children) names with meaning. My brother and sister both had Biblical names, and I was the odd man out. The question that sometimes whirred around my mind was whether or not my siblings were more holy because their names were straight out of the Word of God. I still have no answer to that question, but something the Lord did reveal to me recently was the importance of my name. April Suzanne means, "Blossoming Pure Lily". I always loved this as a child. Just those three words had a way of making me feel as if the Lord was happy with me.

As an adult I am always wondering why I haven't figured out life yet, why I have to continually grow and learn and be stretched. Why, after being saved all of my life, I still don't fully understand the Lord and His ways. So God gently reminds me, I am still blossoming.

It funny to me that my name is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because when I make mistakes and I don't have it all together, I am reminded that I am still blossoming. A curse because according to my name, I will always be blossoming and may never have it all together!

But praise the Lord, for as a flower blossoms it becomes more and more beautiful. And hopefully as my life blossoms year after year, it will become more beautiful before the Lord. That is my desire. I may never reach "blossomed", but at least there is the promise of more beauty with each new day.