Nearly three years ago, the Lord brought a name to my mind: Lydiana Truth. I felt like it was the name for our daughter, but I wasn’t pregnant at the time. And I knew that our having a daughter (or any children) was entirely dependent on the Lord’s will.
Even still, I was encouraged by the Lord to treasure this name, to remember it and what it means. I’d never heard of the name Lydiana so I researched it as a compound name (Lydia + Ana). I love the word “Grace” and what it means, and I’ve known for many years that all forms of Anna (Anne, Ana, Hannah) mean “Grace.” I’ve often thought about incorporating a form of this name and its meaning into my daughter’s name, if the Lord chose to give me a daughter.
But what about Lydia? I love the way it looks when you write it in cursive, and how it sounds when you say it. Beyond the name’s aesthetic value, I also knew that the Bible gave a historical account of a woman named Lydia who sold expensive purple garments and who became a Christ follower after hearing Paul teach the Gospel on a riverbank in Philippi (Macedonia). In fact, Lydia was the first documented European convert.
“On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. ‘If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come stay at my home.’ And she urged us until we agreed.” (Acts 16:13-15)
I did some research of this name and found the following (based on the Biblical account above):
“Lydia was a woman of hospitality, a woman of faith. As a successful businesswoman she most likely had a home spacious enough to welcome guests and to use her home as a Christian center, where others would gather for the worship and prayer. After Paul and Silas were released from prison, they went immediately to Lydia’s house to see and encourage the believers gathered there. Lydia served the Lord through her gift of hospitality by welcoming others into her home.”
Then as I thought about the word Truth as a given name, my heart was stirred to pray for my daughter to know Christ, the Truth, to love Christ, the Truth, and to always boldly proclaim Christ, the Truth!
I also appreciate that the name Ruth is contained in the word Truth. My mother’s middle name is Ruth and I’ve often thought of naming my daughter after her, a godly woman who has mentored me in the ways of the Lord throughout my life. I also love the Biblical character of Ruth and the great faith she demonstrated in following the God of Israel, and also what her name means: companion, friend.
Finally, “Truth” reminds us of Sojourner Truth, the abolitionist and civil rights advocate who had been born a slave, named after her slave owner, and later said,
“I went to the Lord and asked him for a new name. He calls me by the name Sojourner, because he wants me to travel around this land telling people of their sin. And he calls me Truth, because I’m supposed to tell them the truth.”
A few months after the Lord showed me this name, Bobby and I learned we were pregnant with our first child. I thought maybe this was Lydiana Truth. But the Lord had something else planned for our firstborn. On October 21, 2012, our son Parker David Gilles was born into the arms of Jesus, having been stillborn after a long labor on the heels of a 10 month pregnancy. We have been greatly comforted by the Lord’s great faithfulness and love demonstrated to us in countless ways since we buried our son. We rejoice in the Lord’s goodness to us in giving and taking Parker!
And then in June of this year, we learned that we had been given a daughter, due to be born in early November (just two years after Parker’s birth)! What comfort and joy the Lord has given us through her life with us already. As we pondered what her name would be, the Lord reminded me of “Lydiana Truth.” I mentioned it to Bobby and he said, “Yes! And I will call her Dia!” Dia is a name he’s always loved for a daughter, and it happens to be situated right in the middle of Ly-DIA-na. When I told him that “Dia” is the Spanish word for “Day,” he replied, “Well, then. She will be a child of the Day!”
Oh, how my heart was greatly encouraged by this thoughtful meaning because truly, Lydiana has come into our family like the Day bringing joy and dancing after our long night of weeping and waiting following Parker’s stillbirth. And we pray that she will be a Child of the Day who walks in the Light as Christ is in the Light.
So, what’s in this name, Lydiana Truth? Nothing less than many prayers for our daughter’s heart to be opened by the Lord to accept His Gospel and be saved; for her to experience friendship with the Lord and many others by faithfully following Christ’s example of showing grace and hospitality to strangers and other members of the household of faith; for her to be one who always worships the One True God, fearing Him only; for her to know and love and boldly proclaim Christ, the Truth; and for her to be a joyful Child of the Day who walks in the Light as Christ is in the Light. We pray that she would be adopted by God and know Him as Father from her earliest youth, and that by His gracious help her life would be pleasing to Him in every way for His great glory.
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Absolutely BEAUTIFUL, my friends. Can’t wait to meet her myself, one day!
Thanks so much, Shannon. We’re looking forward to that day, too!
There is so much in a name. Her true identity will shine as a result. Your prayers and thanksgiving have molded and made her in His image. I may never know what God does through her, but I know He will use her mightily.
This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your precious little girl and may God continue to bless you as you make His Name great!