About two months after Lindsey and I started dating, we started talking baby names. Couple of crazy kids with absolutely no idea what we’d gotten ourselves into with each other. And now here I am a good eleven years later, sitting in my office on the night before Lindsey gives birth to our second son. I’m thankful that she’s the mother of my boys but I’m thrilled that she’s my wife. Beautiful. Wicked smart. Sexy. Funny. Hot. I know more about the love and grace of God because of her love for me – a love that isn’t blinded by my rugged good looks or my jaw-dropping athleticism; a love that’s seen me at my worst and given me her best.
It took us awhile to come up with our first son’s name, and by the time we decided on Jonathan, we already had the name picked out for another boy if God brought one our way. So for over three years, we’ve been sitting on a name that we love because it provides us the opportunity to honor three sets of men that mean the world to us.
William Gregg Adair was born on August 21, 1952. I’ve been hanging out with him since sometime around the end of 1975. He taught me how to ride a bike, throw a curveball and the value of being there for the people you love. About twenty years ago, I wrote Dad a note at Christmas, trying to express how lucky I was to be his oldest son. It’s not Hemingway but he still has it in his office at home. Next time you’re there, read it – I still mean every word of it. What I can add to that is that he’s allowed me to grow as a man – I think it’s fair to say that we’re friends – while providing the encouragement and advice that only a father can provide to his son.
I’ll let Lindsey handle this next name – The name William (and its derivatives) has also been a part of my family for many years--Will shares a name with both of my maternal great-grandfathers, Willie Hudson Moore and William Earl Moody, and with my maternal grandfather, William Boyd (Bill) Moore; we chose the name William for our second son in part to honor these men and this side of my family. I did not have the chance to know either of my great-grandfathers, but I did know and love my grandfather Bill Moore very much. He had many characteristics that I would wish for Will to share; I will always remember him as, in addition to a wonderful grandfather, a hard working man who had great integrity and a very independent spirit--he was truly someone who lived up to a name that means "strong-willed warrior"!
She used the word ‘derivative’ – told you she was smart! I had to use spell check – twice – to type it correctly.
I’m not sure when Alan Carter was born. I’m not sure he knows either because I don’t think calendars had made their way to Brookhaven, Mississippi on the day God brought him into the world. I went to work for Alan at Faith Presbyterian Church in Birmingham seven years ago and I left there almost four years ago. I’d still take a bullet for that man. A crooked stick who has always pointed me to the narrow way of Jesus while also showing me how to love your wife, love your boys, and love the church Jesus gives you to pastor. Alan has two sons who have the privilege of carrying on the Carter name – I hope they won’t begrudge me the privilege of having one of my boys carry on the name of Alan. It’s a good name – a good reminder of a good friend.
So by the time you read this, I’ve already held, cried over, and prayed for Will. Depending on whom you ask, his name means protector, warrior, stubborn, handsome, a little rock, harmony. Our dreams for him are fairly simple – that he might know that he belongs to Jesus and is here to join God in his mission of putting broken people and a broken world back together. Thanks to everyone who has encouraged us throughout the eighteen months of trying to get pregnant and then the last nine months waiting for Will to get here. Keep praying for him, ask Jonathan about the new plastic tools he got as a big brother prize, and know that we’re thankful to be able to share our lives with you.
Awesome
Posted by: Gammons | May 03, 2008 at 06:03 PM