What’s In A Name?
We chose to name our son Jack Braddock Howard. There wasn’t a lot of debate between us, no sleepless nights tossing and turning, wondering if he’d be scarred forever by our choosing the wrong name. We didn’t want to wait until he was born, size him up, and then choose between five or six names that we had picked out. We just liked this one.
I think at first we liked Jack for a lot of superficial reasons. It’s not trendy. Though it is one of the most popular names in recent years, you can find Jack’s in almost every generation. It’s strong. The curt nature of the word smacks of a rugged man, a man’s man. Plus, there are a lot of Jack’s we like, though our son is named for none of them: Bauer, Johnson, Nicholson, London, Black, or even C.S. Lewis, whose friends called him Jack.
Then one night, Sarah and I looked up the meaning of Jack. It’s a derivative of John, but it’s meaning was so apropos for the stage of life we’re in. It means, “God’s grace,” or “God has been gracious.” At the time we found out Sarah was pregnant, we were living in a free house driving a car that was given to us in a town we hadn’t even heard of two years ago. We were seeing his grace in his provision for us, in the friends he was giving, and in his guidance to places we never would have chosen but were becoming increasingly more grateful for day by day. Grace indeed.
We kicked around a lot of middle names, but we kept coming back to Braddock. We really wanted to honor Sarah’s family by giving our son her maiden name. Again, looking up the meaning made us 100% certain. From Old English, Braddock means “a broad spreading oak.” Psalm 1:1-3: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Could we have a greater hope for our son, that he would love God and his word, that he would dwell in it, sink his roots deep in it and produce great fruit for the kingdom of God?
So, what’s in a name? For our son, many of our hopes and dreams reside there. We believe that Jack will be a man who grows to love Christ and others well, who tastes grace and produces much fruit that will cause others to taste and see that the Lord is good. My daily prayer has been that he will be more faithful than Sarah and I have been, that he will follow God closely and be spared many of the pains of disobedience and sin. For that to happen, he’ll need lots of grace. I’m so glad we serve a Father who loves to give good gifts to his children.
*sigh*… What a blessed little guy to have Sarah and you as parents! So proud for you two!!! So stinkin proud!
Jerry-First we would like to have your address–have something to send you. Jack’s name is beautiful. He is one blessed little boy! Our children love you and have the best memories of you when they were in youth at Glenview. I remember one day I saw you talking to the kids, and I was thinking, “One of these days that sweet guy is gonna be an amazing husband and father!” Jerry you have blessed SOOOO many children. Your wife is the blessing you have waited for. And now a baby son. We are so glad Jesus let us know you. God Bless you. We will always remember you in a very special way!! We love you! Victoria and Randy
Nicely done. Great name. And congrats!
I love the name. I love the boy. I love you guys. Congratulations again!