A Good Name
Names! Our names
carry great significance throughout our lives—they identify us, shape the image
we have of ourselves and influence how others respond to us. Having a “good
name” is often synonymous with having a good reputation.
For young
children, getting used to a name can take some time. My cousin Larry came home
from kindergarten with the report that there was a “dumb kid” in his class who
never raised his hand when the teacher called his name.
“Well, what was the kid’s name?” his mom
wanted to know.
“It’s Lawrence.”
“Larry, that’s
your name!” Revelation! The next time the teacher took roll, Larry knew when to
raise his hand!
Our son-in-law was
named William Christopher; however, his family always called him Chris or
Christopher. When asked to give his first, middle and last name at school,
young Chris responded, “Chris Topher
Sachs!” Very Logical!
The names William
and Christopher together paint a picture of someone who is “a resolute
protector, a person of strong will, a warrior of Christ.” That is the person he
has become for his wife and four children.
How did his
parents know when they were picking a name for their newborn? How does anyone
know? And yet our names do define us.
In my second-grade
classroom one morning, a little girl named Patty beckoned me over to her desk.
She pointed to the lunch menu for Tuesday and said, “Look Mrs. Lowery, they’re
having me for lunch on Tuesday—pork patties!” Then we both broke out laughing. It’s always exciting to see one’s name in
print, even on a school lunch menu!
Once when
volunteering at the Sierra View hospital gift shop, I approached a young lady
who stood at the rotating display of key rings and asked if I could help her. The
key rings were arranged from A to Z, each bearing a common boy’s or girl’s
name.
“Oh,” she
responded, “You won’t have the one I’m looking for. I’ll never find it.”
“Well, what is
it?” I asked, thinking maybe it could be ordered.
“It’s …and she said something like… “Abicity”
“Would you please
spell that?”
“A-B-C-D-E!!!” she
responded
I tried hard not
to laugh. “Well that certainly is different!”
“If I have a girl,
that’s what I’ll name her. And,” she went on to say, “if I have a boy, I’ll
name him XYZ!” (pronounced “Exwazy”) Most unusual! But it does make sense, especially if the girl
was the first and the boy was the last of her children!
Like so many folks
who bear the names of their parents, grandparents or other family members, my younger
brother was named James and now goes by “Jim” just like dad. Our sister, Jan,
was the third child in the family in keeping with the “J” theme.
When the twins
came along, we got to help choose their names… a boy’s name and a girl’s name,
starting with the letter J…Jack and Jill! Needless to say, Jack and Jill took
some teasing from their classmates during their years in school.
I’ve often
wondered if my middle name, Lynn, was given because of the ending of my mom’s
name, Madolyn, or due to the influence of my dad’s famous football coach from Cal
Berkeley, Pappy Lynn Waldorf. They always assured me that it was from mom’s
name, but it was spelled like Pappy Lynn’s.
The names Judy, “praise,” and Lynn, “free
flowing,” have often served as reminders
to be grateful. Now to let praise flow from me freely and genuinely…what a
wonderful way to live. What a wonderful way to bring glory to God!
As Christians we
bear the name of Christ, which is both an honor and a responsibility. Is
Christ’s character expressed in our daily lives? In who we are or are becoming?
Are we living the way He would have us live, in love and faithfulness?
If we make it our goal to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves, the proverb quoted above promises that we will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. A good name, a good reputation, favor…from living a life of love, from being found faithful. Help us Lord!
* Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV
(picture at top, Madolyn, Judy, Jim and Coach Pappy Lynn Waldorf)
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