pieces and ponderings

“Peace in the land”…that’s what the baby name book listed as the meaning of the name we would give our child number three.  When I looked up name meanings yesterday, I found similar meanings for the name “Jeffrey”:  “gift of peace,” “God’s peace.”

“Peace” is the key word in our son, Jeffrey’s, name meaning…it’s why he bears the name he does.  As I’ve been thinking about him this week with the taking of senior photos and all (see earlier post), I remembered choosing his name.

Child number three is named after his father and his paternal grandfather.  He has three names that come before his last name…two middle names, (which make filling out official documents and forms loads of fun).  But his dad and I felt like this would be a child who could carry all of those names well.  And though he bears reminders of his lineage in family names, we call him by the middle name not handed down from previous generations.

I’ve always liked the name “Jeff.”  I had a childhood friend by that name.  He lived across the street from my grandparents and aunt inVirginia.  He and I spent hours playing outdoors every summer during my two-week stays with my grandparents…pleasant memories.

And when I was all grown up and expecting baby number three, the name “Jeff” was on our list of possible names for our son.  Way back then…when I read the meaning of that name…I knew it was just the right one for our baby.

The time of my pregnancy with child number three, was not a peaceful time in our lives.  After 35 years of marriage, my parents were separated and heading toward divorce.  It was a painful time.  It was like a huge earthquake shook the foundations of my family of origin, ripping it in two.

I longed for peace.  I prayed for peace.  I hoped for peace.  Our son, Jeffrey, would carry with him in his name a promise of peace…a promise that when everything around you is shaking and quaking that God is still there…giving peace…being peace Himself.  “Peace in the land” was the perfect name for our third born.

Many years later, when our family was facing a crisis of another kind, my world being shaken again as my daughter suffered from seizures, “Peace in the land” would step forward again and again with calm steadiness to lend a helping hand wherever might be needed.  It was Jeffrey who called 911 when Amy’s first seizure rocked our world.  And then he called my best friend to ask her to pray.  I was going into shock, but he was calm and steady.

He has grown into his name well, and I am a proud momma.  He continues to be a big reminder to me that God’s peace is always available.  There can be “peace in the land.”