Go! {To TeenPact National Convention} - Part 2

After the guys had left and the girls had come down to gather at the front, Lydia and the intern girls began to speak. When Tara's turn came, I remember the LORD nudging me to pay attention.

Tara's talk opened my eyes to the struggles I have dealt with in the past and what I am dealing with in the present. I am so glad she spoke what the LORD had laid on her heart. I can never express enough gratitude.


I have decided not to share with you, reader, what I am dealing with currently. But, I will share with you a similar struggle that I have overcome in the past couple of years.


* * * * *

Okay....Let's get real here, people.

My name is not on the most popular baby name list nor will it ever be. I'm pretty sure its not on any list – anywhere. (If you find it, they're might be a reward for you.... :) )

Growing up, my name got butchered, sliced, mispronounced, misspelled, and a couple of kids that I crossed paths with called it "weird." I even had a teacher tell me that she wouldn't remember my name because it was SO unique. I clearly remember that day in class, believe it or not. *worst feeling ever*

{Honestly, I can see why she wouldn't remember my name. But, I was 9 years old and that was a bit hurtful and inappropriate at the same time.}

Looking back, I have had some funny misspellings and mispronunciations of my name. I'll give you a few here....

Misspellings:

1. Gi-Ann 
2. Gann
3. Jiann 
4. Gee Ann (not kidding) 
5. Gianne 
6. Gina (seriously?) 

Mispronunciations: 

1. Guy-ann
2. Hard g and i with ann
3. soft j and i with ann

(its kinda hard to write the pronunciations.)

As you can see, this is what I have lived with my (almost) 18 years of my life. 

I would often ask why I was named "Giann" and not some common name like Sarah, Emily, or Anna? 

My Mom would always respond with "What does Giann mean?" or "What is the meaning of your name?"

I would reply back with "Its means God is gracious, God's blessing."

Then, she would smile or continue with whatever task she had been doing. 

I kept asking that question time and time again. It wasn't until I was about 15/16 years old that I realized it fit my story. Not just the fact that my parents loved the name. :)  

My birth is classified as a "traumatic birth." 

I was a big baby at almost 9 lbs and well, Mom couldn't deliver me the natural way. She figured that out during the actual process. (Nobody knew beforehand.) And that's when things got silent for awhile.

We came relatively close to death's door.

Thankfully, the doctor knew what to do and had my Mom in the operating room to have an emergency C-section. Not long after that, I entered the world!

Fast forward a couple of years later after my brother's birth and the doctor tells my parents that they weren't supposed to have Jason, much less me.  

Doctor: "Now, tell me how did this happen?" 

My Parents: "The way its supposed to...?" 

(hahaha...this makes me laugh everytime...) 

I say all that to say, I'm only here by the grace of God. 

And what does my name mean?


"God is gracious." 

I didn't always like my name until the moment I made that connection. And now, I love it! :)


* * * * *

Its kind of interesting how our name can tell our story.


Think about it? What is the meaning behind your name and how does it tell your story? Leave a comment below and let me know! :) 

* * * * *

Thanks for letting me share this with you, dear reader. I hope you have been encouraged in someway.

Look for more posts soon!

Happy Weekend, y'all!

(photo credit: Pinterest)