Years ago my parents wrote out all the meaning of names for the children in their lives. I think they did it one year for youth camp. My first name is Judith. It means praise. Marilyn is the root to mara meaning bitter. My dad wrote, “You have the opportunity to turn all your bitter situations into praise.” Talk about prophetic!

I am reading the book of Ruth. Elimelech means my God is King; Namoi means pleasant, delightful, lovely; Mahlon means weak, sickly; Chilion means failing, pining. Can you imagine naming your child with such negativity? Every time you called their name you pronounced sickness on them.

When Namoi went back to Bethlehem, she said in Ruth 1:20, “…Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Note. Bitterness is a choice. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”