16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.”18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
The tragic circumstances of Benjamin’s birth are captured in the naming of the child. Rachel, who dies shortly after seeing her new son, names him Ben-Oni, which means “son of my sorrow.”
But Jacob gives the boy a different name—Benjamin—which means “son of my right hand.” Now, I’m sure Jacob doesn’t intend to disrespect his wife’s dying words, but instead of saddling the boy with a name that will forever remember the day of his birth, Jacob gives his son a name that will speak of his future.
That’s a really good parenting strategy. Rather than allowing your children to be remembered for their past, we can speak into their lives in ways that proclaim the great potential they possess.
Everyone fails, but those who move forward successfully are usually those who believe that better days can be ahead. Your children need to know that you believe in them and that you are excited at the opportunity to walk beside them as they pursue that future. Like Benjamin’s name implies, walk side-by-side with your children into their amazing futures.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
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