What's In A Name

I have called you by your name and you are mine.   Isaiah 43:1

There was a little first grade boy who decided one day that he no longer liked the name his parents gave him, so he picked a new name.  It began the day he started writing his name on all his papers with the capital letters ‘ZB’.  As his teacher sat down that afternoon to correct the day’s work, she was a bit puzzled but it didn’t take long to figure out who the mystery student was.  First thing the next morning she called ‘ZB’ up to her desk and asked if he might be willing to explain.  He very politely told her that his parents had made a mistake and given him the wrong name so he decided to fix it himself and just start writing the name he had chosen.  She said sweetly to this completely serious little guy, “Sweetheart, you can’t just change your name.  That has to be done by an official person.”  He shook his head and said, “Oh, I get it.   So, can I go talk to the principal right now to change my name or should I wait till recess?”  Holding back her laughter, she sent him down to visit the principal right away.  The principal welcomed the visit and began by asking the little guy, “So, how did you come up with this new name?” The little boy said, “Well that’s easy!  I just picked a cool name that would tell everybody what I’m good at.”  The principal looked at the letters ‘ZB’ and said, “I’m not sure I understand.”  With all the pride one smile could hold, the little boy stood up and said, “I’m a fast runner so my new name is Zooming Bullet!  I just write ‘ZB’ because all those other letters take too long to write and I like to be fast.” The principal sent him on his way promising to make a phone call to his mother to discuss it. ‘ ZB’ raced back to class very content and the principal just sat at his desk and laughed harder than he had in weeks as he pondered what he might call himself if he could choose a new name.

From the moment we are knit in our mother’s womb, we are named by the God who created us. I am a firm believer that there is divine influence as Christian parents name their children.  There is usually a strong story to our names whether we are knowingly named after a Saint or given a treasured family name, there is usually a reason.  Do you know who you are named after and why?  When Dave and I were picking names for our children we picked the middle names first.  Each of them bears the name of a powerful Saint and a family member who we hoped would provide a strong example of faithfulness and goodness and in all three cases were heavenly saints themselves.  Kevin, our oldest has the middle name James. James is the name of my father’s cousin who was killed in WWII.  I shiver every time I read the telegram from the US Navy informing the family of the bomb attack on his ship.  James is also the name of my mother’s brother who died of Leukemia at the age of 16 and finally, it was the name given to my older brother who has attributes too many to type!  His name has a history of strong, brave, faith-filled men.  Jason, our second son has the middle name Richard.  Richard was the name of Dave’s brother who left this earth far too early but who lived each day with a huge spirit!  Shannon, our daughter is named after my mother, Barbara. Her legacy could take up a whole blog itself!  

I truly believe God knew them by name before they were born!  It is absolutely amazing how our children resemble the characteristics of the people they were named after.  Kevin looks like and shares so many of the same interests and mannerisms of my older brother sometimes it gives me the chills.  When Jason was little he was the proud owner of a huge stubborn temper…the same temper and stubborn streak that used to cause his Uncle Richard to hold his breath and pass out. In both cases that temper mellowed into a strong confidence.  As for Miss Shannon I have begun to discover that she is all of her grandmother’s greatest attributes bundled into one lovely person!  Is it a coincidence, I don’t think so!  If God loved us enough to create us so wonderfully and perfectly he wouldn’t leave our name to chance…He had a hand in that too.

 We are His and He knows our name!  He knows who we are and we will never be lost!  I often wonder what my name says about me and I wonder what God thinks about the life I’m living under the name He gave me

A Seed to Plant:  Find out the story of your name if you don’t know it.  Take some time to think about your name and the memories and impressions you and your name will leave with others when you are absent.

Blessings on your day!