On a recent day that creative inspiration visited me, a can of red paint, a piece of kindling and my Cricut machine all met together. Without much thought or effort, this rustic family name sign was created – perfectly resting above the fireplace where it was originally headed.
"A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." -Proverbs 22:1
While I wouldn't mind a small measure of silver, gold or riches to enjoy, the Bible tells me that a good name and loving favour are better.
I love the family I married into – imperfect just as any family of the human species is, yet beautiful people whom I love – people I call MY FAMILY.
Even before my last name changed with marriage, my last name was something I regarded to be important. It identified me as the child of my parents and as the big sister to my brothers. Again, I was born into an imperfect family, yet a beautiful one. Now, even more than then, I feel rich to call these people and their families MY FAMILY.
I love both "sides" of MY FAMILY, and desire to uphold each family name that has been mine. Yet, above these family names that identify my individual life, there is a name that runs deeper than my birth or married names. It is my relationship with Jesus Christ that I entered at the age of nine. Though I am imperfect, He is perfect. At the end of my life on earth, this is the Father that will never leave me. Ever. If I smudge my earthly names – which I pray to God I never do, I still have a perfect Father. If I ever lose my earthly names due to sinful causes, I am still part of God's family. In Him alone, I find full familial satisfaction. Through Jesus Christ, I am forever in MY FAMILY- the family of God. My prayer is that I live so as to honor my family name of "Christian" even more than I desire to honor my earthly family names.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." -John 1:12
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