Live up to it...

I don’t have any children of my own yet. However, I am looking forward to becoming a father. My Queen and I often discuss the matter. We discuss when we would like to have them, how many we want, their genders, how we will raise them, etc…My favorite topic to discuss pertaining our future children is naming. We discuss potential names what seems to be almost daily. Every name that is suggested, the first question asked is, “What does it mean?” No matter how nice a name may sound, if it doesn’t mean something positive, it is voted down and removed from the list. Naming a human being is a huge responsibility, one that I am looking forward to. I believe that names are very powerful. Announcing yourself as, and answering to something day in and day out is serious. Names often become self fulfilling prophecies.  My parent’s also believed these things. When choosing my name, they considered a few options. I’ve heard Lance, Stone, and a couple others, but they decided on Ryan. I remember looking up my name in the baby name book in the grocery store when I was a young boy. I was happy to see that my name meant “Strong, Little King.” I instantly felt better about myself. I also felt like I had to live up to my name. I have always strived to live like a King. Not meaning a rich man, but to carry myself in a kingly manner. To lead, live with dignity, honor, be responsible, dependable, live with integrity, be courageous, to be strong physically, mentally and spiritually, to make wise decisions, to be a man of my word, etc…

When I was a young boy, older guys, like my big brother and his friends, or my uncles or big cousins would tell me to “Man Up!” They would tell me this when they felt that I was being childish or behaving less than manly. Well, now I am a man, still trying to live up to my name. Striving to fulfill the prophecy that my parents placed upon me. I often hear the terms “man up”, “woman up” or “boss up”.  Well it’s time for me to “King Up.” That is the focus of my life right now, in every aspect. I want to behave like, and carry myself as a King. The way my parents saw me when they labeled me as such.