Whats in a name?

When we were born our parents first job was to give us a name.

My parents struggled as I was their fourth daughter so had run out of ideas!

At the age of 3 years old after a few days with no name my sister Joy said to my parents

"Call her Angela" What a relief as apparently my dad kept calling me half pint!!

Names are really important. It helps to identify who we are.

I’ve learnt that since moving town and starting in a new church, new community and new swimming group

that remembering peoples names is important. I've made it my mission to do just that.

I have a gorgeous friend Steph who is amazing at remembering peoples names. When you are a part of a swimming group of about 100 members that is no easy fete!!

I have now remembered the ladies name in the bakery and the local newspaper, and remembering every persons name I swim with.

Why is it important to remember peoples names? I think it makes people feel special and valued and important.

I have had some awkward moments when I have called someone by a different name and they have definitely not felt special!!

It says in Isaiah 43 v 8

I have called you by name you are mine I redeemed you do not be afraid. You are mine.

We have started to watch the series Chosen this is a series on the life of Jesus portrayed by amazing actors.

Although there is a lot of poetic license in it, Jesus and all that he did on earth has come to life for me.

In one of the episodes Jesus calls the disciples and he just looks them in the eye and calls them by name, "Simon, Andrew follow me." The intimacy of the moment is almost electric when Simon realises that this man knows his name.

Obviously Simon and the others who Jesus calls by name follows Jesus. the story unfolds in each episode.

Simon and his brother Andrew were having a conversation (again poetic license but I can imagine that this could have happened) Simon says to Andrew "I don't know why he asked me to follow him I have not idea what I am doing!"

Andrew replies "Neither do I but do you remember when our father started taking us out fishing? He didn't teach us to fish, we just watched what he was doing then did it" "That what we need to do with Jesus lets watch what he does then do it"

Each one of us are called by our own names by God to follow him, not to be an Esther not to be a Mary not to be anybody else, but to be ourselves, he has called us by our own individual name to be followers of him.