Names

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1 (NLT)

I have one of those kinds of names that is not especially difficult to spell but there are different options. I’m named after my aunt, Gerry, so I followed her leading as to the spelling but my family added my middle name, Rae, to distinguish between the two of us. Gerry can also by a man’s name. I know when a caller asks to speak to Mr. Blumberg that they don’t know me. And the spelling of my name is important because if misspelled, it’s not me (a personal point of order.)

Many names are chosen for their meaning but I don’t think mine was since it was a family name. Geraldine has French background, the feminine of Gerald, and means to rule with a spear. Many Biblical names have special meaning — Sarah means princess, Esther means star, Issac means laughter. Sometimes God changed the names of His followers to reflect a new purpose such as Abram to Abraham, Saul to Paul, or Simon to Peter.

Mark is one of three boys and as the years passed and his mother entered that phase when memory begins to fail, she would run through all three names until she got to the right one. “Just callin’ the roll,” she would say.

We have recently changed churches which is always a bit disconcerting and disquieting. Last Sunday, as I walked up the aisle to my seat, the Pastor walked by and said, “Hi, Gerry.” We have only been there a month but the fact that he knew my name made the connection to this church real, warm, and comfortable.

On those days when the clouds are threatening, the joy is missing, the future unknown, remember that our Heavenly Father knows each of us by name. He knows what is ahead. Nothing is a surprise to Him and we are safe in His keeping. And not only is our name special to the Father, but there is something about the name, Jesus;