A Rose by Any Other Name

This morning, Dwayne asked me to e-mail him the link to my blog. He’s building a website for us to share. When I looked at the website, I noticed that he refers to me as ‘Madre’ which sent me down another rabbit trail. My real name is not Sue—never has been. When I was born, my parents picked out 2 different names. My father left the hospital and forgot to communicate a vital piece of information—which one he preferred. My mother chose the other name. When I came home from the hospital, my dad nicknamed me Sue. I answer to my legal name but only if I’m in serious trouble. I have close relatives that don’t know my real name. It’s a fact of my life. I went to the bank for my father-in-law recently and the teller was surprised. She knew me but was unaware of my “real” name.

Madre is another story altogether. When we moved to Newport in 1995, we met a man who greeted Dwayne with “Hello, Padre.” The nickname stuck and became the name of our pizzeria. When I ran the pizzeria, I became Madre. My employees called me that. Even our own children have been known to call me that. It’s another name associated with a different part of my life.

God knows our names. He has written mine in the Book of Life. He knows who we are no matter what we call ourselves. Even when we feel like we have no name, God calls us by name. He even tells us so in Isaiah 43:1 and 2:

But now so says Jehovah who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame kindle on you.

He not only calls us by name but walks with us through life—all of it.