A good name is to be chosen over great riches.
Proverbs 22
The story behind the names Maria, Marie and Mary, has been one of my favorites for a long time. In many name-meaning books, you will find the name to mean BITTERNESS. Such was the use of the word when Naomi had lost her husband and two sons, and spoke to her daughter-in-law, Ruth: "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." (Ruth 1:20)
See, Maria comes from the Hebrew word for "Myrrh", and the myrrh plant, if you taste it, is very bitter. Even it's appearance is knarled and twisted, with it's long thorns sometimes even piercing it's own vine-like trunk. This has lead many name-researchers to say that the name Mary means Bitter.
However, with a closer inspection into the word for the myrrh plant, a much more beautiful meaning is revealed. You see, if the myrrh plant is hurt, or cut, it produces tears of sap, just as we do when we are hurt. Those tears, while bitter to the taste, can be collected. And if properly prepared, can be transformed into a most fragrant perfume, or a costly healing balm, or in Bible times, even an anointing for burial. Those three uses are why it was so significant that the wise men who sought after the Baby Jesus brought Him a gift of myrrh. You see, Myrrh, --like the hurts and wounds in our life--, was never meant to be tasted and bitterly ingested, but to be transformed through forgiveness, into a beautiful, healing fragrance.
A much better meaning for Mary than "bitter" is one about the positive qualities of the plant, which are very costly, useful and comforting.
It's true that hurts in our lives can cause deep wounds, and we can respond with anger and bitterness, but if we respond rightly to such hurts, our forgiveness can be a sweet aroma to God, and a priceless healing balm for us, and those around us. So on our name gifts, the meaning for the name Maria reads "Fragrance and Healing from Rightly Responding to Hurts."
The verse we include on those name gifts is Ephesians 4:32, which speaks of forgiveness.
"Let all bitterness, and wrath be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
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Read More Name Stories:
A Name's Meaning: The significance of Names, and the Encouragement they bring.
Jacob, a life seeking Blessing.
Angela, a name with a Message.
Maria, a name of Healing and Forgiveness
Blake: Meaning Behind the Research
Caleb: The Courage found through a Courageous Leader.
Elijah: The one who Called His God by Name.
Demaris: Strength submitted to God.
TRUST in the Lord, Names with Trusting Meanings
Driver's Ed, How these Name Gifts first started, over 10 years ago.
"My People", Our experience at the Home Educator's 2009 Convention.
How CrossTimber researches a name
FAQ: Questions about Names and Meanings
FAQ: Questions about Products & Orders
