I Know Your Name

At a conference I recently attended where Skit Guys were present (yes, THE Skit Guys who made a personalized video for my girls - eeekkkk!), Eddie shared with us a story about a trip to Target with his little girl where they ran into her Sunday School teacher in the aisle.  He said that he was so blessed to sit back and watch her little face light up as her teacher called to her, asked her how she was doing, how things were with her soccer team and told her that he was looking forward to seeing her on Sunday.  As they walked away, Eddie asked her if she liked her new Sunday School teacher and why.  Her simple answer was, "Yes because he knows my name."

Such a simple thing really, our name.  I mean the only real stress involved in it for most people is when your parents agonized over baby books and naming websites to come up with the perfect name to add to their family.  Your name gives you identity in this world.  For some reason, your parents thought that the name you'd been given would somehow connect you to something or someone of significance that they hoped would help form you in this life.  Most of us even know the meaning of our name.  It's one of the first things kids like to tell me when I start teaching them.  My name is ________ and it means _____________.  For instance, my name is Christina and it means "follower of Christ."  I know my parents intentionally picked that name along with the prayer that I would indeed personify its meaning.

So our name has significance.  And when we hear it spoken, that also has significance.  And the way it is spoken carries with it much significance.   Therefore you can imagine how significant it was to me when my kids and I pulled up in front of our Pennsylvania church last Wednesday night and was soon greeted by the sound of our names being shrieked and screamed with delight as we soon became engulfed in hugs, tears, laughter and excitement... and that was before we walked in the door.  Cesar Ramos stopped mid-conversation (and if you know Cesar that's significant too) and jumped up yelling and ran to hug me.  My heart swelled.  Love personified.  I was wanted. 

Our whole visit was like that. Over and over again our names were spoken with love, excitement, and surprise as most people didn't know we were coming.  Hearing those familiar voice speaking our names was such a comforting and fulfilling thing.  I'm not sure I can accurately explain it except to say that the familiarity of it all was like a warm blanket on a cold day or a cup of hot tea on a blustery afternoon.  My bucket was filled. Or so I thought...

Because on Monday morning as we emerged on our first day back in Kentucky, I heard something.  It came from the distance and was filled with much enthusiasm and genuine love.  It was the voice of a little girl yelling, "Miss Christina, is Caleb there?"  Our little neighbor Anna, our new friend, who knows our name.  And throughout that day my heart continued to fill as our new neighbors and our new friends repeated similar greetings of welcome and excitement, saying our names with love and friendship.

I feel as though I have been doubly blessed.  Here and there, I know love.  That's a pretty incredible thing that not many people of the joy of experiencing.  I think of our friends here from other countries.  Try as I might, I know I butcher their beautiful names on a regular basis.  How comforting it must be for them to hear someone who is a native speaker say their name.  It feels like... home.

And that is why dear friends, it is so, so, so important to hear that name from the One who created your very soul.  To hear your name spoken with the most joy, the deepest care, the greatest excitement; to have it resonate within your soul with the most intense love ever from the only One who can bring the rest and comfort your heart desires.  Jesus knows your name.  He speaks it when we need it most, where we need it most, in the tone we need it most.  He speaks with excitement, he speaks with love, he speaks in comfort and correction, in joy and in peace.  And when He speaks it and we hear it, our souls are home.

We had a wonderful trip to Pennsylvania!  Thanks to everyone who came out to see us on Saturday and especially to my sister for letting us sleep in her home, eat her food, drink her coffee and make a general mess of the place.  Thanks to my parents for spoiling us with two lunches out and a fun trip to Reynolds farm.  Thanks to CBIC for the welcome and love we felt on Wednesday and Sunday and for the lasting friendship you offer in spite of fire alarms.   Thanks for knowing and saying our names. 
 

This week starts the second marking period for my girls at school.  They are loving life in Kentucky - great teachers, great friends and a great community here in Kalas.  Luke has midterms this week and will be starting the last half of his first seminary semester.  He is really enjoying his classes and the fellowship he has with the other students here.  I am spending my days with Mr. Caleb and working with the seminary kids in childcare.  God has given me such a vision of what my time with those kids can be in terms of spiritual formation and growth and I would love all of your prayers as I seek to serve and hear God's voice and be as my name defines me - a follower of Christ.