When I was a teenager, my father, Morris Boquet, explained a valuable lesson to me that I remember vividly, fifty plus years later. From time to time, he would allow me to go to work with him. On one of those days, I sat quietly in the car while I watched him finalize a contract with a client of his. The two men shook hands and went their separate ways. Once we were on the road, driving home, I asked him about the business he had with the man we just visited with. He told me, that he made a commitment of being on site monthly for the next year. I asked, “What would happen if you didn’t show up one month?”
He pulled over on the side of the road, turned to face me as I sat in the passenger seat, and he explained a very important lesson. This is what he said.
“I guess we will never know. You saw me shake his hand? That simple act, bound me to the commitment that I made to him. If I choose to not live up to my end of the deal, all of my future commitments will be just as worthless; making my name worthless because I am the one who made the commitment.
Son, our name is only as good as the acts that we do. We come from an old and reputable family; never do anything that will tarnish its name or yours.”
The idea, that a name means something, dates back to the beginning of human languages. People’s names were an explanation, an extension, of who they were. Our history shows that families selected the names of their children, based on three options; that the meaning of the birth name mattered to the parents, the name was used by a family member or members whom they cherished, or they liked the name based on its vogue status at the time. Sadly, the last reason is the most common used today.
The meaning of a name was so important, during Biblical times, people changed their birth name based on an “awakening” in their adult life. One of the most well-known people was Saul of Tarsus. His birthname, Saul, meant “prayed for”. Likely because the parents felt he needed to be prayed for due to a difficult birth, much illness in the community, or one of many other reasons. After his biblically recorded awakening, enduring mental, spiritual, and physical struggles, he felt humbled to learn his thoughts, words, and actions were completely wrong. So much so, he chooses to re-name himself Paul, meaning small or humble.
The same thing happened to Simon, who became the apostle, Peter. Simon, meaning to hear or listen; Peter meaning rock, as the foundation of the Christian Church.
If this is my last post, I want all to know, there was only one purpose for all that I have written; to have made a positive difference in the lives of others.
Anthony “Tony” Boquet, the author of “The Bloodline of Wisdom, The Awakening of a Modern Solutionary” and the soon to be released “The Power of the Wisdom of Three”
