Berkley Grace's namesake is my Grandaddy, Floyd Burk Lowder, who went by Burk. I have so many memories of this man - too many to list here. Even as I sit here to write about why I wanted to name my daughter after him, I know this post will not even come close to giving a clear picture of who he was and the qualities that he possessed.
he was strong. he was brave. he was proud. he was generous. he was kind. he was impatient. he didn't take flack from people. he was funny. he was successful. he loved to fish. he was protective. he loved to garden. he couldn't stand cats and called any and all of them 'wampus'. he had a short temper when it came to technology and automated messages. he always put his family first. he never owned a credit card and paid for everything with cash. he loved being on the water. he didn't know a stranger. he was a hard worker. he loved his family. he loved the Lord.
He also loved his grandchildren and spoiled us rotten. I remember he always would slip a 20-dollar bill in my hand before leaving to go home. He came and supported me and my brothers at our sporting events whenever he could. We never questioned nor doubted his love for us. Looking back I think my brothers and I looked up to him more than we knew.
I miss being called "Sugar". I miss the prank gifts we would give him each year at Christmas. I miss listening to his stories of growing up and of the 'good ol days'. I miss the never ending supply of butterscotch candies and peanuts on his coffee table. I miss the summer days at Sunken Meadows.
Even though it's not as customary to name a girl after her great-grandfather, I hope Berkley Grace will appreciate where her name comes from as she grows up. I hope she comes to know what a great man my Grandaddy was and the impact he had not only on my life, but also everyone else in our family.
We then decided to make her name a double name with Grace because of the grace that has forever changed my life, Steve's life, and Lord willing our children's lives. We want Berkley Grace to be reminded of God's amazing grace that He bestows on her every single day. We want her to understand and believe with her whole heart that it is by His grace that she has been saved - not by anything she has done or will do.
Berkley Grace, your name is more than just a name to us. We cannot wait to be able to tell even more stories about your amazing great-grandfather and to share all the more with you about God's abounding love and saving grace.
