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Just change your name

Really, would you?  Change your name, I mean... you can, you know.  Susan means lily, that's what I've always been told.  I did a little google search, and, among other information, found this:

This name limits imagination and vision.

Well, that's great...I knew I wasn't creative... I've been telling people that for years... no wonder I'm not a Pinterest enthusiast.  Just maybe, that website I googled doesn't really define me.

My husband, Frank, is the 3rd in a line of Franks.  That shocking ultrasound in 1997 confirmed, that we would be adding a boy to our family of 3 girls.  As we begin to think about names, Frank was adamant about two things... 
1. He must have a one-syllable strong name.  (Remember our girls are Katie, Kellie and Mollie - all two-syllable names - not exactly sure who one-syllable is "stronger"... but I agreed to his request.)
2.  He was reasonably sure that his name would not be Frank IV.

So I agreed, and after much discussion, we determined Clay.  On August 4th, 1997 Clay was born and named Clay Ellis Wilder - all was very well.  About 3 months later, I began questioning that decision.  We should have named him after his dad, and his grandpa, and grandpa's dad.  What were we thinking?  This just isn't right.  In order to see how the name would actually fit, we began calling Clay - Frank or Frankie to determine if we could change his name.  We even spent that holiday season asking some of our family and friends to join us in the name switch.  With again... much discussion, much thinking and much prayer, we affirmed our decision to leave his name - Clay.  Thankfully, he was young enough that we didn't create an identity crisis as far as we know.

Naomi carried through her idea of name change.  She was Ruth's mother-in-law from the Old Testament.  
There was a famine in Bethlehem (where Naomi and her husband, Elimeleck - his parents weren't concerned about syllables...)
So they took their 2 sons and moved to Moab to live.
Elimelich died
Their two sons married Ruth and Orpah.
Their two sons died.
Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem.
Oprah stayed in Moab; Ruth traveled with Naomi.
Naomi changed her name from Naomi (pleasant) to Mara (bitter).

None of us would discredit her decision - she had experienced such loss, such difficulty, such grief.

Some days I'd like to change my name based on how I felt that day or on circumstances.

 Hey, ya'll, today, call me...

Tired... not much sleep last night.
or
Fearful... not sure how all "this" is going to work out
or
Joyful... those grand boys spent the night last night!   (maybe Joyful Tired)
or
Uncertain... which decision is best
or
Discouraged... that didn't go the way I had hoped
or
Overwhelmed... its just too much to process
or
Thankful... so very cared for
or

The rest of that story... Ruth married Boaz who was a gracious man - he took care of both Ruth and Naomi.  Ruth and Boaz had a son... they named him Obed... giving Naomi a grandson.  Now just let me tell you about grandsons - they bring joy, delight, pleasure, enjoyment... and so did Obed to Naomi.  "Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him."  

We know the rest of the story... Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David... in the line headed to the birth of Jesus.  God's plan and God's timing are always His to determine and are always perfect.  My prayer today for you ... for me... is that we will be much more concerned about our obedience to His word than to our uncertainty in our circumstances.

So, for today... call me simply Trusting... and I will do my best, with prayer and petition, to wear that name well.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.  Proverbs 3:5-6.

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