So our youngest grandson is the most adorable little guy. The men on both sides of his lineage are large in stature, brawny. No small surprise then that at just over 3 years old he larger than his 5-year-old sister. He’s like a little tank. We have a nickname for him (something his mama started). We call him, Buddy. Buddy was here the other day, and although I did not see the interaction, my husband tells me that Buddy corrected him about the name he wanted to be called. O' Pa was so mesmerized he re-enacted the entire story for me ending with Buddy adding, “No, my name is Ezra." I was not amused. I love the name Buddy. It so suits him. So I wanted to explain to Buddy that people can have more than one name. It’s okay if he wants some to call him Ezra, but maybe it could also be okay if others called him Buddy (hopefully his Nanny)… So, I asked him, ‘Buddy, what do you call me?” Looking up at me in bewilderment, he responded (as if I was in need of being reminded), “Nanny.” I said, “Right.” “But did you know that I have another name too?” Now another bewildered look, this time with a partial smile (cause he’s a smart boy and he figured that something was up). I said, “O' Pa calls me Andi.” “Andi???” he said. He was waiting for the other part of the joke I think. “Yes, O' Pa calls me Andi. And my friends call me Andi. And your daddy, he calls me Mom." No comment but wide eyes. I said, “Buddy, it’s okay to have more than one name, huh?” I thought he might call me Andi after that, but he didn’t. And I was allowed to continue to call him 'Buddy' without any correction. You probably have more than one name you respond to. To family you may have others, like nicknames. Each one with special significance. Did you know there are literally scores of names for God. One we often hear is: I AM THAT I AM. "Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am."' Exodus 3.13-14a Matthew Henry’s commentary writes in part of that name: “...Being self-existent, he cannot but be self-sufficient, and therefore all-sufficient, and the inexhaustible fountain of being … That he is eternal and unchangeable… “ I love my name Nanny because it was created by my littlest granddaughter, but also because as she speaks it, each and everytime, I remember how much I love her. Today as you go through your day you might think about the favorite name you have for God. The one that has special significance to you. Perhaps it is: I AM THAT I AM. Either way, isn't it true that there is so much more to a name than just the sound? ~ Andi
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