Name Game

 Who knew a name could be the catalyst for faith?

Mandi and I we went back and forth about names.  Even before we knew if it was going to be a boy or a girl, Mandi was insistent on having a name for the person growing in her body.  I was a little more laissez-faire about things but did want start the process of naming our child.  Needless to say the battle was waged and I learned very early in this pregnancy that arguing with a pregnant woman was not a good idea. 

So, back and forth we went.  We had actually already agreed on a name for a boy.  I have always felt it is right to honor the important men in your life.  My late father was a great man.  A man I sincerely aspire to be.  It is not often that your personal hero can be the one who gives you life.  I love my dad and could think of no better way to honor him than by naming my first child Emmanuel.  Mandi too shares the same feelings for her father.  He is also a great man and a person I admire.  It was settled quick and easily that if it were to be a boy, Emmanuel Michael King would be his name.

God has a sense of humor.  Mankind makes plans…. and God laughs….  This is true.  With our feet firmly on the ground for a boys name, it put more pressure on us to secure a name for the fairer sex.  As the online websites were raided for names, we needed to set some ground rules and guidelines. 

1.    We wanted something unique and original.

2.    We wanted a name that had meaning.  I stressed that a name can tell so much about a person.  I was very adamant that with no value to the name, our child would never know how much thought and appreciation was given to her even before she took her first breath.

With the guidelines set, the name search became a heavily debated items for days and weeks leading up to our first ultrasound.   

My last name is King.  I have always coveted this name as it is apart of a legacy forged in excellence.  I am very proud to pass on this heritage to my child.  As a male, the name King would live through him for another generation to come, but with a female, our family namesake might end with her.  I knew that if I could find a first name translation of the word “King” for a female, I would be able to accomplish this and also find something unique.

Round 1 of our verbal spar was over the name Kilea vs. Kaleah vs. Kyliegh vs. Kayleah.  These names sounded similar but had different meanings, none of which provided comfort to either of us.  We went back and forth on many different variations on these names.  Unfortunately, we both went to sleep frustrated.  (Again I must reiterate, it is never a good idea to argue with a pregnant woman)

Back at the grind and we could not come up with a name that worked for us.  I would love to tell you that all of our conversations were peaceful, but they weren’t.  In our three plus years, the one thing that Mandi and I have agreed on is our own stubbornness.  We held our ground and stood firm on the names we cherished. 

During one of our pre marital classes, it talked about the abundance of Gods grace.  This struck a chord in both of our hearts as we new that this child would be welcomed into this world only by God’s grace to us.  Though our sins have been forgiven, we did not deserve such a wonderful gift, yet God has given us the ability to parent a new life into his flock.  Through God’s blessing, we agreed that the child would have the name of Grace as a middle name.  This was a not contested.

Once we had decided on a middle name, choosing a first name became a breeze.  We wanted something to predicate the name “Grace”, while offering meaning and uniqueness on its own.  “Kaia”

When the words rolled off Mandi’s lips it instantly opened my heart.  It was one of those moments that freeze you and you know that something special just happened.  The discussions, arguments, and endless text messages were over.  The meaning of the word “Kaia” is Latin for “Pure”.  The word “Pure” has tremendous depth and offers a great meaning on its own.  Coupled with God’s “Grace” and her name now has a sense of truth that could only be described as divine.  Pure Grace is what was given to us.   We had a name that not only had meaning, but also had a purpose for life.

With all respect to our fathers, I went into our first ultrasound hoping for a girl.  The name Kaia Grace had so much meaning to me that I truly wanted a girl just for her name sake alone.  As the ultra sound technician pointed out three white lines, Kaia Grace King came into fruition.      

 As we left our appointment we both knew that something and more importantly someone special was going to bless our lives.  Kaia Grace King will be a name that I will speak millions of times in my life. With every time her name was said, it will be a reminder of God’s eternal blessings.