on the meaning of a little girl's name

So once we had a girl it was time to pick a name. We had about 15 names that we liked, but nothing we had settled on. Originally (when I was pregnant with Bentley) our name was Elizabeth Grace, but for many reasons I didn't want to do it anymore.


The morning Lily was born I was reading my Bible on the couch while drinking my coffee. I read this passage from Matthew 6:

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.



While I was reading it I couldn't help but remember how I had loved the name Lillian- I love that it can be shortened to Lily too. So I was reading that passage and just reminding myself that I shouldn't worry about all the things I worry about. I love the beauty of a field of lilies- I love the image that is painted here by Christ that God painted that field of lilies and they're just flowers- how much more does he love us and paint the story of our lives?
So we've named our daughter Lillian as a reminder to not worry and to trust in the Lord for our needs- to seek Him and His righteousness knowing that He will tenderly and perfectly provide for our needs. We hope that her name will spur you on to remember the same is true of you and how much you are loved by your Creator- the perfect painter of the lilies. :)

Elizabeth is David's mom's name. We like to include family into our names when we can. (Lily is actually my great great grandmother's name and David's grandmother's aunt who she liked very much!) When we think of David's mom- we think of a woman who has an enormous amount of faith and trust in the Lord. Fear plays no role in her decisions to carry out the Lord's work. I pray that Lillian will know this about her grandmother and will also have a great trust in her Lord and Savior.