I’ve never liked the fact that the meaning of the name “Taylor” is “tailor.” When I was in elementary school, I remember getting a little bookmark with my name and its meaning. I was disappointed because the girls around me had names that meant “pure” or “favor or grace” and I was stuck with “tailor: someone who sews.”
Fast forward almost 2 decades and I’m sitting at the Beauty for Ashes retreat, a World Race women’s retreat that occurred a couple days before Training Camp. I was part of a small group of 7 that had the opportunity to dig deep into our stories and pasts. Randomly we were talking about the meanings of our names. I hadn’t thought about my name’s meaning in years and I responded to someone, “That’s pretty. At least your name has a cool meaning. Mine only means ‘Tailor.’” Erika, a woman in my group, interjected, “No! You don’t understand how beautiful that word is.” She went on to explain that tailors fix what is broken; they mend when things aren’t working the way they’re intended to. These are all things I would potentially be doing on the Race.
I chewed on this some more and realized: Tailors are inspired. They don’t only see things the way they are, but they see the potential. They give clothing material an identity and know what it will become.
God is the ultimate Tailor (yes, it’s cheesy but TRUE). He’s the one that inspires and declares identity. I aim to follow His leading and will inspire and show others their true identity, from the Father.
I’m starting to really see the beauty in the name my parents gave me. They had no idea 23 years ago that when they named me, it would be the very thing I want to spend the rest of my life accomplishing.
It’s funny how God works
