V.L.V.L. What?

V.L.V.L. What?

Vicki Lynn Vander Laan. The name my two older sisters (ages 9 and 10) chose for me before I was born. They thought it would be cute to have my initials be V.LV.L.

(I’m grateful my dad put his foot down and announced my name would be Debra Sue.)

So much of our identity is wrapped up in the name we are given at birth. When I came to learn Debra means ”bee” (in Hebrew) I looked to my past to get a glimpse if there was any evidence of being bee-ish. I also thought about my present and future—could I live up to my name?

So, what do bees do? Pollinate plants, look for nectar, make honey. In other words, they work. They are busy. Industrious. When I did my research, I found out “we cannot live without bees”. They are responsible for 84% of crops grown for human consumption! Who knew?

Regardless of the name or labels given to us by others, knowing our identity is found in Christ alone is what we must remember. 

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 ESV

Do you know the meaning of your name? How much of yourself identifies with your given name? Please share in the comments!