A Rose By Any Other Name
It’s always fun to hear what new parents call their little ones. Our nephew just named his baby girl, Sadie Wren. Isn’t that the cutest thing?
Ronald would come home every first day of school and tell us the neatest names on the new roster. He always loved the name, Autumn Palomino. One year, Stephanie came home telling of a girl whom she always called by both names – Sabina Duella. I had a hard time believing Stephanie until I met the little girl with the fun to say name. Since moving to Georgia, one of the best names I’ve heard is Misty Raines.
I always liked my unusual name and never heard it connected with another person until I was a teenager and never with my middle name. Imagine my surprise when I moved to the middle of nowhere Georgia and found our flooring guy has a daughter named Kara Beth!
Mama always disliked her name. After naming four kids, my grandmother must have run out of names. Larona Fadabelle was shortened to Fada, which is usually mispronounced.
I was always called by both names. It’s a Southern thing I guess. Like my mother, I have been called a variety of names. As I have been called some very colorful names through the years, I’ll stick to the ones that are actually derivatives of my name. My band director called me Carla. I was too shy to correct him. Other names included Cora, Karen, and Clara Bell – a character from Howdy Doody. The funniest moniker was given to me by my friend’s little brother– Carrot Breath.
Every parent struggles with naming a child. I think most have been doing it wrong or at least missing a vital step. My faux big sister, Marjorie, had a great suggestion before my first was born. After choosing a name, go to the back porch and holler her complete name. If it rolls off the tongue there, you know you have a winner. I did it, and it was a useful tactic throughout my girls’ childhood. “Stephanie Diane Huddleston! You’d better put the book away, turn off the light, and get to sleep!” “Amanda Rachelle Huddleston! Get out of the bathroom, now! It is your turn to dry dishes!” “Melissa Beth Huddleston! If you think you can get a tattoo while you are living in this house, you’ve got another think comin’!”
Names often have meanings or invoke certain emotions, and people often define themselves accordingly. I wonder if Ronald’s grandfather raised a passel of kids during the Civil War lived up to his name – Pleasant Huddleston. Life certainly wasn’t anywhere pleasant as his two of his kids were involved in a politically motivated family feud and were killed in anger.
Okay, here’s the Preaching Alert. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I am always amazed when reading the Bible. They came up with some very unusual names for their children. A famous book, The Prayer of Jabez, was based on the poor lad whose name meant ‘he causes pain’. He overcame the designation and became a more honorable man than his brothers by asking God to bless him and help him in his work. He prayed God would be with him in all that he did. He asked that God protect him for all evil and disaster. And God did!
How would you like a name like Buz which meant ‘contempt’? How about naming your daughter Huldah which means ‘a weasel or mole’? Good grief! Makes some of the names now days sound beautiful!
In the Bible, God has names that in English are translated God, Lord, or LORD. In reality, there are Hebrew terms used that describe His personality and characteristics. I won’t go into all names. I’ll share a few of them that ‘roll off the tongue’.
One of my favorites is calling God, ‘Abba’. I had a daddy who loved me dearly, and I know my Heavenly Father loves me even more.
‘Jehovah Shalom’ means the God of Peace. Most days we could all use a little more peace. Calling on the God whose very essence is peace is a comfort to me.
‘Adonai’ is Lord and Master. Choosing Jesus as my Adonai means I submit to His Lordship. And doesn’t that imply He will lead and guide me so that I don’t have to struggle so with life’s choices?
God is called the Ancient of Days. As my life swiftly flies by and I wonder about eternity, it is great to know that God always was and always will be – the Alpha and Omega. El-Olam – the Everlasting God. With God in my future dwelling place, He who knows everything and seen everything, I don’t have to worry about the future because He has forgiven my past.
‘Jehovah-Jireh’ my provider has been faithful to me despite my foolish ways.
One of the best things ever is what God calls me!
In John 15:15, Jesus says, ‘I have called you friend.’
Blessings
Kara Beth
Parenting Tip
This is a picture of my family role-playing as they learn to introduce themselves. Make sure to teach your child proper etiquette! When a child learns an adult’s name and greets him properly, it is very impressive. So is saying “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” and “Yes, Ma’am” and “No, Ma’am” even if you are not from the South!!!
