The Name's the Thing

    Welcome to the first post of my blog, Becoming A Fair Lady! What first attracts me to a blog, book, or anything else is the title. If an article's title is too mawkish and romantic, I quickly turn the page. For some people, the deciding factor is whether it sounds boring or adventuresome. Whatever the title might be, there is always a reason behind the name. 'Gospel' means good news and was used in the Roman Empire to signify all the acts and proclamations of the person in question. Quite fittingly, then, the word 'gospel' was chosen as the name for the good news of what Christ has done for us. I go through all this to show that headlines have meaning. So does the name of my blog.

    As Mother and I were setting up this web-page, Mr. Blogspot said, "Please fill in the blanks: Name of blog is_______". Hmmm, had not thought of that yet...We sat for a few moments, coming up with 'Jennifer this', 'Jenny that', and maybe 'Jenn's something or other'. In short, nothing particularly successful. Then I remembered my name meant Gentle Spirit or Fair Lady. Perhaps we were getting somewhere! I then looked up 'Fair' and 'Lady' in Webster's 1828 Dictionary. These are a sampling of the results.

Fair:

2. Beautiful; handsome; properly, having a handsome face.

3. Pleasing to the eye; handsome or beautiful in general.

4. Clear; pure; free from feculence or extraneous matter; as fair water.

6. Favorable; prosperous; blowing in a direction towards the place of destination; as a fair wind at sea.

9. Open; frank; honest; hence, equal; just; equitable.

10. Not effected by insidious or unlawful methods; not foul.

12. Honest; honorable; mild; opposed to insidious and compulsory; as, to accomplish a thing by fair means.

13. Frank; civil; pleasing; not harsh.

17. Free from stain or blemish; unspotted; untarnished; as a fair character or fame.

Lady:
    1. A woman of distinction. Originally, the title of lady was given to the daughters of earls and others in high rank, but by custom, the title belongs to any woman of genteel education. 

    Well, that was a lot to take in! Talk about living up to a name. As with all other things, I looked at this with the eyes of a Christian. What is handsome, proper, and pleasing in the eye of God? What is beautiful to God? Matthew 17:5 says, "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" So, Christ pleases God. I suppose I ought to look more like Him, then. Continuing along in the list of definitions, I find I must be pure, free from dirt and blemishes. This reminded me of sanctification, how Christ washes out every spot and wrinkle from His bride through His blood and the truth of His Word. Fair also signifies prosperity. While I do not have a golden touch and never will, it is my desire that, by following God's commandments for my life, I will help prosper those around me. Our last group under 'Fair' denotes a certain honesty and transparency. Oh, that I might not have anything to hide; that when God looks at me and sees everything about me, there would not be anything shameful!

   'Lady', too, has special meaning. A woman of distinction. What about a daughter of God? Thanks to God, I have been adopted into His family. It follows that I hold my head high and remember I have a dignity not my own, but bestowed upon me by the Creator of the universe.

    I believe all these qualities and strivings are not applicable simply to the 'Jennifers' in the world, but to all who are my sisters under the same Heavenly Father. And that is what my blog is about! Becoming A Fair Lady. Not all my posts will be about Bible verses or goals in life. I will probably post about cooking experiments (or fiascos), sewing projects, the latest book on my book list, and all the ways by which life flies by. Nevertheless, I always want to keep in mind my reason for living and can "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).

Until next time!