The Name Isaac Rinn

First, many thanks to all of you for your thoughts and kind wishes through the waiting (it was getting pretty rough at the end) and your welcome for our wee boy.  Each comment, email and thought has been encouraging and we are grateful for each and every one of you who have cared for us during this time!

Now, the story of the name...

We chose Isaac's middle name in the Spring, long before we were settled on a first name.  We wanted something with a nature symbol like the other boys (Jonah's name story is here and Rowan's is here) and we wanted at least one of his names to be gaelic or Scottish to connect him with this land where he was born.  So when we came across the name Rinn we loved it immediately.  It is gaelic and means star.  The first image that came to mind and that I have held through this pregnancy was Abraham looking at the stars which numbered the people of God.  It is our prayer that this little one will recognize and accept his place among the people of God and be part of the covenant made with Abraham so long ago.  It wasn't till earlier this month when Rowan first saw the stars, after a long summer of going to bed when it was still light out, that we also realized how perfect the image of a star is for a baby born into the long Scottish nights this time of year.  And of course, we also love the epiphany image of wise men seeking the star and pray that Isaac will seek Christ with wisdom and love just as the wise men sought Him so long ago!  

The first name was harder to settle on and we only chose it recently.  We have always loved the name Isaac and the meaning 'Laughter' seemed perfect as we anticipated our third son, for our lives are full of laughter with all these little boys around (and thinking of our grocery budget when we have three teenage boys at the same time makes me laugh already!)  But, on a more serious note, we liked that Isaac, like Rinn, connected to the Abraham story.  I reflected on Sarah's laughter (I wrote more on this here) and how Isaac was such a blessing and such a change of her expectations.  Lately, it seems that parenthood and life as a whole are about adjusting my expectations.  We don't know the path ahead and want to face whatever is to come with faith and laughter.  Likewise, our prayer for Isaac is that he will always face life's challenges with laughter and grace, and that he will bring joy to those around him!