Originally written on 8/21/2019 - one day after Matthew's birth.
Original story found here
Let me preface this with some information regarding my other two boys. Long ago I realized God uses names (or changes them!) to define the purpose and/or giftings of His people. He still does this today! They were each given their names through the process of picking out names my wife and I liked from a list of family names, and then praying over them asking God to direct us to the name He wants to give them.
Our newest member is Matthew Ray. These are family names. However, the story you are reading is unique and wonderful to those who know the heritage of our family lineage and the man who chose to follow God - and in doing so, is now being honored.
The name Matthew comes from my wife's family. Its meaning is "Gift of God". The name Ray comes from my grandfather's middle name and the name by which he is called. Ray means "light" or "counselor". This is the story of how God named Matthew Ray.
As is our custom, my wife and I went through family names to find a name for our next child. Unlike other times, we struggled to narrow it down. We had around ten names picked out with at least two of them not being family names. We prayed and prayed about these names and never could come to that place of peaceful conviction that God has given us our next boy's name. I even entertained the possibility that God might have wanted me to name this child and He would honor that name's meaning and purpose and breathe this purpose into the personality and giftings of this new child-to-come. But shortly after praying over this idea, God helped me realize He has already picked out a name for this boy and will reveal it in time. I reassured my wife of this conviction when she reminded me that we are getting closer and closer to the birth of this unnamed baby.
One morning I woke up realizing I had a very vivid dream. I do not typically remember my dreams - much less recognizing that I ever have dreams. What I remember and still see to this day in my mind is this:
I dreamed that the baby had just been delivered and we were still in the hospital. The boy was laying down and sleeping peacefully face up. His hair was shimmering brightly as if it was light itself, and his ears were large and older looking. These ears were akin to an old man's ears, grandpa-like ears.
I turned to my wife and told her about my dream. She said, "that's funny, because I also had a dream about our new baby-to-be. In my dream, his name was Matthew Ray".
We had never considered Matthew Ray as a name.
I simply said, "huh, I wonder if this is meaningful." I then received a message on my phone from a friend and my High School teacher of now ~77 years young. He sends verses daily to many people. This is the verse he sent:
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
The meaning of the names: Matthew "Gift of God" Ray "Light/counselor"
I shared this with my wife realizing what was happening. "I think God is giving us our boy's name." We agreed to pray about it and immediately we had a peaceful conviction about it and no doubt in our mind that God had given us his name AND a "life verse" for him.
Honoring My Grandfather
I had entertained the idea early on of naming my child after my grandpa - who in my eyes is a very humble man that puts his faith in the God of the Bible; a man I deeply respect and who is respected by all his children and his children's children. However, in seeking that God would name my children, I was ok with not naming my child after my grandfather - even though he deserves such an honor.
What is most interesting to me… God honored my grandfather by naming my child after him. That is amazing! Was my grandfather perfect and "deserving" of such an honor according to his perfection? NO! I'm sure of it! He has even told me some of his imperfect past!
Abraham in the Bible (the book of Genesis) was not perfect either. All Abraham did was to say "yes" to God's calling - and he has now been honored by the Christian and Jewish world for millennia! This too is all my grandfather has done. Because God loves us, this is all it takes for God to honor us in some capacity - even if only by letting us into Heaven!
"Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." - Genesis 15:6 (NIV) Let me paraphrase/explain this verse: Abraham believed in God, and he was saved!
Abraham believed, and in turn so did imperfect Isaac, then Jacob, Joseph, and the Israelites. This speaks to the tremendous impact one man has on the world when he simply believes in God's amazing destiny for him.
My grandfather believed, and now his belief has certainly had an impact on my life. Matthew Ray not only has a wonderful name given to him by God with an accompanying verse to live by. He also holds family names and should understand who his great grandfather is. But more importantly, he should know who God is. I know God would not entrust me to care for such precious spiritual significance unless He thought me capable. I pray that I do well to train all of my sons in God's ways and to know God personally. I hope to do so by opening my heart to my family and letting them see the deep relationship I hold with my Father in Heaven through His Holy Spirit.
The "bright hair" I talked about in my dream refers to the Ray (light on a hill). The "Grandpa-like ears" - well, that was God telling me he is honoring my grandfather.
To accompany this story, there is another story that shows how God loves unconditionally despite our flaws that I would like to share. This was originally handwritten in a prayer journal and transcribed here. The entry is from 8/21/2019…
Matthew's Birth - a written prayer by his father
As I witness my boys interact with love in their hearts towards their new brother with the utmost (and entirely genuine) love and respect for him, I see my boy's hearts of love. These are good men in the making. I see the freedom my wife has been endowed with since she surrendered her struggles to You about 1.5 years ago. I recount the incredible relationships You have given us through a good church; and the amazing influence You are having on my students at work, the people at the church, and the community I serve. A supportive, understanding, and selflessly loving family surrounds us…
I can only be amazed at Your handiwork as I wonder at it all…
And then You speak into my soul these words…
"I just like to see you smile."
Tears run down my face every time I think about what You have declared to me through these words… Even as I write hours after you spoke to me…
God, You are beyond good…
You did all of this… Your words to me are not a declaration of a goal You want me to fulfill using these blessings you have given me. It is not a blessing meant to empower me to some great ministry ahead. I do not "owe" you for this excellent work You have done for me and for those I dearly love.
Your entire reason for blessing me this day: "I just like to see you smile."
Having loved my wife and my kids dearly, I know what you mean by these words. I understand the deep relational meaning expressed through these words - in as much as I am humanly capable.
I have no words left except to open my arms to You, hug You dearly, and with excitement in my heart and joy written all over me declare that You are my God, and I am Yours.
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