WHAT’S IN A NAME?

You will conceive and give birth to a son and you are to call him, Jesus.

______________________ 

To tell this story of names I start with Jacqueline Blanche who tried for eleven years to conceive and then she had me, Janene Marie.

Janene is a French name, in keeping with the women of my ancestral tribe starting with Arrière Grand-Mère Yvette, then Grand-Mère Blanche, and then my mother and her three sisters, Antoinette, Paulette, and ma petite Jacqueline.

Throughout my six decades I have been called many things—

My daddy was the only one that called me Neener.

And I adored the way my mama puckered when she said the “J’ in my name just like her maman did when she was a little girl.

Before we were married, Ron fondly called me ‘JK’ because we shared the same first initial of our last names and he believed that letter would never change.

Depending on their mood, my three boys call me Mama, Mom, Madre, Mamacita, and Maman and my daughter in marriage and her three boys have always fondly called be Bernie.

My childhood nickname, Nēne,  has always been the one most preferred for those who know me best. And my grandson, Archie calls me Nēnē, the last “e” pronounced his way, like “elated.”

Still, after all these years I find it remarkable that my mama folded the name, Janene Marie, within her heart, then held out hope for a little girl for more than a decade.

Our names are set apart. Chosen. Imagined long before our births.

This time of year I often think about the exchange between Gabriel and Mary, how jubilant he must have felt at being chosen to give her the news—

He startles her with a grand appearance,

Then tells her, “Do not be fearful,” because he knows how unbelievable all of this is.

He modulates his voice to a whisper, hoping to calm and draw her near.

Mary, you will have a son,

And you will call him Jesus.

Not only will he come to save the world,

But in surprising and extraordinary ways,

He will come to save you.

Fearful. Awestruck. Apprehensive. Overjoyed and Overwhelmed. Most mamas can relate to nearly every emotion Mary must have felt.

It fascinates me that Mary and I have a little something in common…that is, being introduced to our sons. With each boy that I carried, the same Source who sent Mary’s messenger whispered three times while I slept,

“His name is Kyle.”

“He will be called Cameron.”

“This is your son Quinn.”

Our names are audible embodiment of a spirit being—

They speak to the creativity of a mama,

and are a gathering together of the all the tiny pieces of everything she is and loves.

They are a sounding out of what she senses,

an announcement of our purpose in the world.

On the baby announcement for our first son, Kyle, I had this poem printed next to his name—

When God wants an important thing done in the world or a wrong righted

He goes about it in the most singular way.

He doesn’t release his thunderbolts or stir up earthquakes.

He simply has a tiny baby born. Perhaps of a very humble home,

perhaps of a very humble mother.

And God puts the idea or purpose into the mother’s heart,

and she puts into the baby’s mind.

And then God waits—E.T. Sullivan

 As a gift to my three sons this Christmas, I wrote how it feels to be their mama and placed my experience in context of another mother long ago.

As my gift to you, I decided to share an excerpt of what was on my heart as a sort of exploration of who we are—

EXCERPT FROM A LETTER FROM A MAMA TO HER SONS:

_______________

Like Mary, I never had to decide what I would call you.

It was always as if your Creator was introducing me to my sons.

Jesus was called by many names, each bearing witness to his character—

Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.

Like Jesus, your names speak to your mission on this earth, and the character/qualities instilled in you even before you were born.

To begin, I want to share what I believe some of your “standout” characteristics are—

Kyle— Stalwart. Teachable. Determined. Tender. Profoundly Loyal.

Cameron—Relational. Curious. Intelligent. Inherently Loving.

Quinn—Unstoppable. Self-governing. Overcomer. Uncommonly influential.

_______________

Following this message, I asked my sons to answer some very specific questions as their Christmas gift to me.

Perhaps these questions will inspire you to gain new insights into the person you are…and are meant to be.

Jesus was on a singular mission from the time he was born.

What are you doing with the time you have?

May his name sink into you this Christmas.

As if He is he is your Counselor, your Creator, your Everything.

Because He is.

NOTES:

On the message to my sons I wrote, “May these questions serve to guide you in this next chapter of your life—”

What do you think about your name?

What are the nicknames that those who love and know you use?

What qualities do you believe you get from your Father?

What qualities do you believe you get from your Mother?

What is your mission?

What do you hope for?

What are you doing right now to make that hope a reality?

What is your relationship with your Creator?

What is your greatest skill?

What would the person closest to you say about you?

Are you consistent?

Are you who you want to be?

Are you who others say you are?

Name three things that will bring you closer to that person you want to be?

Share your best/standout childhood memory.

How did that memory contribute to who you are now?

How much time do you think you have?

How much time a week is invested in who you want to be/become?

Who could you be if you reclaimed moments spent on unimportant things?

Who is Jesus? [one word]

Who is He to you?

Do you believe that if you knew Him better your life would be better? If so, how?