Signpost

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do. Psalm 71:17

When I was expecting, we chose our child’s name, looked up the meaning of the selected name, chose a verse that reflected that name, and had a plaque created that included the name, meaning, spiritual meaning, and a verse. These hang outside our children’s bedrooms. This is what hangs outside our oldest son’s bedroom:

Brock

English meaning: Badger

Spiritual meaning: Courageous

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous,

do not tremble or be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Whenever I see the traits of the boys’ names displayed in something they say or do, I will point it out to them and compliment them.

For example, Brock was asked to open up our city council’s meeting in prayer when he was a sophomore. Afterward, I complimented him. Then I reminded him of his journey to courage.

As a young boy, he would get tousled about in play by older kids. I reminded him that God helped him learn not to whine but to be courageous in both small and big situations.

He smiled and said, “Yeah, it is pretty cool how God works. But, Mom, I’ve been raised to think courageously, so doesn’t it seem natural that I would act courageously?”

I knew it all had started the week he was born when I hung that little sign outside his door.