...so
that you may know that it is I,
The
LORD, the God of Israel,
who
calls you by your name.
Isaiah
45:3b
In
my pre-elementary school days, I hardly gave a thought to my name.
Friends and relatives just called me “Glendarae” like there was
no big deal about it. I never had to explain how to say my name or
how to spell it. I never had to try to come up with some story as to
why my parents named me as they did. I've since thought that perhaps
my mother had a little too much anesthetic at the time. They didn't
have anyone in particular in mind when they gave me my name.
“Glendarae” wouldn't have been so bad if it had been two
names...”Glenda Rae.”
My
name was one word that every teacher I had in grade school on the
first day of school NEVER pronounced correctly. That led to giggles
from classmates and some teasing. Even in first grade, I felt sorry
for my teacher, Miss Irene. She tried her best to divide my first
name. My mother caught on and would keep a close check on her. Miss
Irene finally did her best to print my name on the board or on our
practice paper, feeling she wasn't going to win. There was no ill
will between both ladies, but my mother would not give in on the
spelling.
Names
are important. They came to us free of charge. Our first name is
something we carry throughout life and that will be imprinted on our
grave stone. Friends may call us by nicknames, but bottom line is,
when it comes to anything official, we still sign anything using our
first and maybe middle names. I've always been happy I didn't have a
middle name...that could have created some real space problems.
Putting
our first and last name together can have tremendous power. I think
of names that when I hear them, my heart is warmed. Family names are
generally warming, especially when there have been good relationships
maintained through the years. There are friends when they come to
mind, bring smiles to my face. However, I hasten to add that there
are names I'm familiar with where I don't have similar reactions.
Some of those names I hear on the news or read of in a newspaper.
Unfortunately, there are names of folks in some churches we have
attended that immediately bring thoughts of people who have been
disruptive, manipulative and even hateful in ways that have hurt
members and leadership.
Our
names automatically register pro or con with folks who think of us by
name. However, it is a comfort to me when God says in Isaiah that He
calls us by name. Think of that...the God and Creator of the
universe... out of the billions of people who have or are living,
still calls you and me by our name.
In
Isaiah, we read of the coming of the Christ child, a child to be born
to US. This birth was to be a gift to us all. In Isaiah 9:6, we
read about just some of the things He is going to be:
For
a child will be born to us, a son
will
be given to us;
and
the government will rest on
His
shoulders;
and
His name will be called
Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal
Father, Prince of Peace.
Those
are some high expectations. When parents bring a baby into the
world, their hopes and expectations for that child are high, but what
the Christ child was to be in His earthly life would become a
reality.
Anytime
anything comes to my mind when I hear the name of Jesus in any form,
warms my heart with never a negative thought. For unbelievers,
unfortunately, the name of Jesus or God our Father has little meaning
for them except to use in making a point in conversation. We have
come to know Jesus by several names, some of which are listed in
Isaiah 9. He has lived up to any name given Him by His Father.
Where
we may have at times let our Heavenly Father down, He has remained
faithful to us. Jesus has been a consistent presence in our lives.
He has lived up to every wonderful name His Father bestowed upon Him
and we to this day benefit from all He is. To top it off, He knows
us and calls us by name.
Father,
I'm so thankful I don't have to introduce myself to you every time I
talk to You. Thank You for being my Heavenly Father Who calls me by
name and Who is my help on a very personal basis. Thank You too for
being Who you are for me in the thick and thin of life. I love you.
In Jesus precious name....Amen
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