Names are Important

Names are important
 
Have you ever wondered or even asked your parents how in the world did they choose your name. I did ask my mother and she just said she liked my name at the time.  Wow, she had no idea that Karen would become so “popular” with so many memes and references connected to it, with even pictures.  My mom hit the jackpot with naming me “Karen”. I was initially oblivious to it until another “Karen” at work filled me in on all of the good stuff on line about us. A negative can become a positive and I have tried to work it to my advantage by even suggesting to people that if they want me to act like a “Karen” I would oblige. 
 
Some to be parents have a difficult time naming their children.  I have seen teachers have an extremely challenging time in selecting a name, which I suspect is because of all the names that they associate with memorable students.  Some people have an easy time because the child’s name just falls in the family line of repetitive names after their fathers, grandfather or great grandfathers. Someone shared with me that every daughter in their family had the first name of Maria followed by their individual name. 
 
During my tenure at the hospital, I serviced the Mom/Baby Unit. My services were called upon typically when a problem presented. Sad to say, there were mothers who delivered and left their baby unnamed at the hospital only to be identified as “Infant” and mom’s last name.  One baby was born in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. So that baby was named for the street the ambulance was travelling on when the baby was born. 
 
We have been able to choose 5 names for our children. All the names were well thought out, purposeful with meaning. So if our children asked, I can give a clear, reasonable thought as to why we chose that name. Each name had a purpose, meaning to be explained.  When we lived in Venezuela as missionaries, we were often asked about the name of our 4thchild, Christiana Grace. People wanted to know “why” we had chosen that name for her.  It became a point of witnessing of the saving grace of Christ.
 
  In our repertoire of family names, we have added 4 more name, our children in loves plus 11 grandchildren, with one more coming in April. Shamefully, I have tried to trick Danielle into “spilling the beans or rather name” of the grandchild coming to no avail. I do have 2 granddaughters that share my middle name, which I shared with my mother.  Darrell has a grandson who has his middle name, even born on his birthday which was Darrell’s dad’s name.  See what I mean, names come from somewhere. Months, seasons, songs, celebrities, even streets. 
 
I grew up in a large family, one with 5 children also.  I use to wonder why my mom would call out at least 2-3 of our names before she landed on the right name for which she needed in the moment. I feel successful if I get the name right on the first call.  My sweet daughter in loves, who are twins, and Sonya and Tonya are so gracious toward me in this area.  They are fraternal twins and while they resemble each other, there should be no mistaking on my part of calling them correctly even after all of these years. As a result of getting names wrong, some people just move to calling people “hon” or such endearing term…. there is never a mistake with that approach.  
 
We all have additional names such mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, uncle or grandma/grandpa.  Other endearing names have been given to grandparents such as Gigi, papa, nana, or lollie/pop.  There seems to be more unique grandmother names than grandfather names.  I think as women we think longer and more intense on what we want to be called and call our children.  Our selection of Christiana Grace survived the birth of two sons before we could bestow upon her that enormous name. To keep the idea going, we give others nicknames, sweet pea, pooh bear, Zac-a-roo, pumpkin just to name a few. We shorten names to Andy, Drew, Kris, Tiff, Trav, Dan etc. One-syllable words are quicker and easier to get out in a hurry. 
 
God was intentional on multiple occasions with names. God changed Abram to Abraham (Genesis 17:5) and Sarai to Sarah (Genesis 17:15). An angel instructed Zacharias to name the child carried by Elizabeth as John (Luke 1:60-63). Joseph was instructed by an angel that Mary was with child, conceived by the Holy Spirit and was to be named Jesus (Matthew 1:20-21).
 
So what is so special about the name of Jesus?. The name of Jesus has over 200 names and titles in the Bible. The name is the most significant name of all names that has ever been named. 
 
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
 
John 14:6 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Act 4:12 (ESV) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Philippians 2: 9-11 (ESV) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
There is so much more to know and believe about the name of Jesus.  In our deep and darkest hours, we can call upon the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. His name is the one name that we can trust with our lives.  
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The name of Jesus is powerful to save. His name, who is above all names, has become a casual, slang, curse word in a person’s vernacular speech of frequent conversations. Have you ever thought why insert the name of Jesus as an adjective, descriptive, explosive word instead of using it as a noun, a person who is to be reverenced and honored. Interesting…these same people would say they don’t believe in Jesus yet His name is so frequently used.  The same can be said about the holy name of God. 
 
So I leave you with a couple of important thoughts: 
 
How valuable and trustworthy is your name?  Proverbs 22:1 says “ A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” Regardless of what our parents named us, we can choose for our name to be a good name. A name that someone can trust our actions and deeds. 
 
Do you call others by descriptive names such as stupid, fool, dumb and so many more of greater ugliness? In my simplistic mind, I have always thought it was dishonoring the parents of the person to ascribe another name that would defame them. 
 
What name do you call out to in the deep, darkest part of the night to save you? In whose name do you ask for salvations, healing, provision, comfort, strength and the list can go on? It is the name of Jesus. The name above all names. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (ESV). 
 
I call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not as an adjective but a noun, a person. Romans 10:13 (ESV) For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be save.”
 
When was the last time you called on the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Today could be the day to speak His name. 
 
It would be a pleasure to hear about any decision you make about the name of Jesus.  I would also enjoy hearing how your parents named you. 
 
 
Blessings, 
Karen