I have always loved name meanings. In fact, I have made over 1,000 scripture name plaques starting when our son, Tory, was a baby. (He's now 40!)
My own name, Barbara, means “stranger to the land.”
No, not "stranger than most people in the land,” even though it may very well be true. 😉 "Stranger TO the land"!
That meaning first struck me as being sad and lonely, rather odd, and too close to sounding like a misfit, especially since, growing up, I was a misfit. We moved eleven times between kindergarten and high school graduation, so I was always the "new kid on the block," more like "odd kid on the block," seldom able to break into the already established BFFs, groups, pairs, and cliques. Quite lonely.
As I was reading I Peter one day, I came across this verse that reminded me of the meaning of my name: “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)
Another translation of the first half of this verse is “Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it.”
I do like all things "cozy," but I don't think it means we can't enjoy our life here on Earth and make our environment cozy and comfortable. Indeed, I believe that's part of bringing the Lord into everything we do, making people feel loved, nurtured, and cared for, as He does with us, an in our spirits.
I take it as a reminder that this world is not my true home, and therefore it's neither "the point" nor the "ultimate purpose" of my life.
This is also the reason I will never feel at home here; my spirit is longing to be with my Lord. So the meaning of my name became a great reminder that I am a stranger to this land, and that Heaven is my true home!
Fast-forward to a recent shopping day... I have enough mugs to last me another three lifetimes, but I still found myself perusing the mug section... I spot some pink roses and gold scripty writing among the crowd of mugs...
Love at first sight! Before I had even read the words, I had decided that the only way it wasn’t going to be mine was if there was something vulgar or profane on it... you know... like:
Too bad I don't care.
☕️
Well aren't you a ray of pitch black?
☕️
I'm sorry, did I roll my eyes out loud?
☕️
I want to be a nice person, but everyone is just so stupid.
☕️
...or...
Some people are just beautifully wrapped boxes of p__p.
☕️
Not even the pink roses and gold scripty text could have beautified the ugliness of those words.
However I would have enjoyed any of these... (Just for a fun quick detour!)
I got so much procrastinating done today.
☕️
If only closed minds came with closed mouths.
☕️
You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him.
☕️
I live in a madhouse with a tiny army I made myself.
☕️
COFFEEOLOGY: Stay grounded,
take life one cup at a time,
better latte than never,
espresso yourself.
☕️
Back to the pink roses and gold scripty writing... Anxious to find out what this one said, I picked it up and read it:
“Home is wherever Mom is.”
Aaaawwww, sweet message, but both of my moms are in Heaven! And I'm not planning or hoping to go there any sooner than the Lord would have me go."
And then it hit me... this is actually PERFECT!!! It brings the meaning of my name and the scriptures that go with it full circle, because...
🌺 Both of my moms are in Heaven... 🌺 Heaven – not this world – is my true home... and therefore... 🌺 Home really is wherever Mom is! ~ wherever BOTH of my moms are!!!
So YESSSS!!! This mug made it not only into my shopping cart, but into my heart!
One last verse, this one from Hebrews 13:14:
“For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”
Indeed I AM looking forward to my home yet to come! – In Heaven!!! ... the mansion that Jesus told us He went Home to prepare for each one of us! – in God's perfect timing for me! (And not a second sooner, or a second later, by the way!)
And when I arrive at my permanent home, I know both of my moms will be waiting for me with open arms!
L to R: My mom-in-love, Carolyn Shelton, me, and my mom, Mary Edtl
(Sorry about the poor photo quality; it's the only pic I have of the
three of us, and I got it before I started blogging or thinking about photo quality.
Since they're both in Heaven, it's not like I can get a do-over.)
