Last month, I posted a reflection on the connection between Mark 6 and Psalm 23. Read it here:
My youngest son’s name is Shepherd. My wife and I spent weeks trying to find a name we both liked as we prepared for my son to be born. We had lots of ideas and options, but eventually, we settled on the name Shepherd.
Why Shepherd?
Amid the abundance of reasons, allusions, and meanings, there are a few central and key ideas that fuel the names meaning.
Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is perhaps the most well-known psalm. It is the first one we memorized. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Thus, the deep images and meaning that comes from this psalm have impacted our lives deeply.
We pray over and will model a life to Shepherd that will mirror the truths of the psalmist. We hope that he will experience the beauty and peace of still waters… that he will know the paths of the Lord… that he will travel beyond the valley of death… that he will sit at the table of the Lord… that he will know the voice of the good Shepherd—and proclaim it to others…
A prophetic guide
We pray that the name Shepherd will carry a prophetic calling on our son. We pray he will become a guide to those around him. Our hope as a family is to collectively walk together in the ways of the Lord. Yet, our family carries a beautiful blessing I do not carry lightly—we have a history of devoted servant of God. My family carries a line of pastors, spiritual leaders, and deaconesses.
Our prayer is that Shepherd, in whatever capacity the Lord deems, will carry that mantle and guide others in the ways of Jesus. The name Shepherd is our daily prayer, in that each time he is called, his consecration to the Lord is affirmed.
A gentle and tender man
Lastly, our hope is that the child, boy, and man that is Shepherd will learn to live a gentle, tender life of love. The traits I want for myself, I hope take deep root in his life. Our prayer is that he models the life of the tender shepherd who guides us all. We want his name to be a reflection of who he is and what he does.
In a world of hurt and pain, we hope to show our son how his name embodies the traits that can bring healing to those in need. Whoever may be in the care or vicinity of Shepherd, may they experience the tender love of God through the hands of our little boy.