"A Good Name"

“A Good Name”

There was a boy whose parents named him, Lemuel Edwin Billaby.  He was called Lemuel. 

His family moved to a different town when he was in the fourth grade.  A lot of the kids made fun of his name it was not an ordinary name, and some would laugh and call him “Lemon!”

This hurt Lemuel’ feelings a lot, and he didn’t make friends with anyone, because he thought they were ALL making fun of him.

One day, when his mom came to pick him up from school, she noticed how sad he was, so she ask him, “Why such a sad face?”

“Mom, why did you name me ‘Lemuel?’  It’s an awful name, I hate it!’  He said, in tears.

When they got home.  Lemuel , got out of the car and ran to the house and into his room, shutting the door behind him, falling on his bed, crying , he was so sad.  Within ten minutes his bedroom door opened and his mom walked in carrying an armful of big scrap books and she sat down on the side of Lemuel’s bed, and said, “Lemuel, this is the reason we named you what we did.” 

She opened the first big scrap book and there were all kinds of pictures and newspaper clippings about a fireman by the name of “Lemuel.”

 It was Lemuel’s great-grand pa, he was a fireman, and a hero, not just once but many times.  He had rescued a lot of people from burning buildings and he had received a lot of rewards and medals.

The following day at school, the teacher told the class that they were to write a paper on the one person they admired the most.  Lemuel was so excited.  When he got home and told his mom, she helped him.  She made copies of his great-grandpa Lemuel’s newspaper clippings and photos for his report.  She also let him take one of the medals to school.

The next day,  Lemuel gave his report, he was so proud of all the things that his great-grandpa, Lemuel had done, that made him a TRUE hero.  So he added this at the end of his report, “I am so proud to be named after this brave, hero, my great-grandpa Lemuel.”

The class applauded, and they gathered around Lemuel to look at the pictures and newspaper clippings and to be able to hold the medal. 

That afternoon, when Lemuel got into the car, he was smiling from ear to ear and mom was smiling too.  Lemuel said; “Thanks, Mom for giving me my name.”

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth.  Proverbs 22:1