What's in a Name

How did we come up with our son's name? Did we name him after our pastor Max Lucado? Initially, the name Max was a compromise. Victor came home the first day after finding out that we were having a boy with all these manly gladiator names (no doubt with the help of his buddies at work) like Maximus and Maxamillion. He tells me later that he was just kidding but at the time I thought he was totally serious so I was like "um, can we do Max for short??" The name Max grew on me and I liked the sound of Max and Maddie together. I am really into what names mean though. I wasn't too keen on the meaning of Max ~ "the greatest one". Of course I think my little boy is great but "the greatest one"...well that is a title only One is worthy of. That brings me to his middle name~ Manuel. This is a family name. It is Victor's middle name, his father's name and grandfather's name. And I LOVE what it means. I got all excited when I looked it up. It means "God in us". Now I can do that. God in you, my little Max, is the Greatest One! And that would be my most earnest prayer for my son (and daughter!) that they would have God's life in them and flowing through them to be a blessing to many. I also love the fact that he is named after our sweet pastor, Max Lucado. He is a well-known gifted speaker and writer but what I love most about him is that he is a humble servant-leader. May my little Max grow to have such a humbleness and gentleness about him as well.