What's in a name?

We all know that Shakespeare said that a rose by any other name would still smell sweet. The Word of God tells us that : A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. (proverbs 22:1)
Well sir, I was raised to keep my name good and clean. It was always the parting words of my parents - remember to keep your name clean. I guess back then it meant all sorts of different things. I mean, we all know folks who have a "name". There was that girl in junior high who got in "trouble". Her name became Mud.
And that fellow in high school who accidentally on purpose put sugar in the principal's gas tank. His name became Delinquent and was soon given a number instead of a name by the State D.O.C.
We are given our name by our parents and I don't know very many folks who would have chosen their own name to be what was given them. Take me for example. My birthname is Beverly. Kinda rolls off the tongue okay, I reckon. Never heard a song about a Beverly. It doesn't rhyme with anything.



My dear favorite uncle nicknamed me Blondie when I was a little gal in pig tails. He would holler out HEY BLONDIE! just like Dagwood did on the radio and tv show.



I am more of a Blondie than a Beverly. Why in the world did my folks decide that I would be a Beverly. I was named after my Mother's baby sister, who died at 14 years old, while in her sleep from rheumatic fever. It wasn't too many years later that I came along and the folks decided to show honor to her. When I was a little one and was told that I was named after a little girl that died, well, you know me and my great imagination. I was afraid to sleep for years! Note to readers: if you name your child after a dead relation, make sure they lived a long life.



Since we are talking about kids and names, I will state here that I named all my children after my heros in the Bible. I have a Paul, Joshua and a Sarah. I think their names suit them. I was so caught up when I had Joshua, that I named him Joshua Isaac David. If I could've fit a Solomon in there, I would've. His name goes before him as a testimony of sorts and it's a pretty stiff name to live up to.
Speaking of living up to names - when you hear certain names, you know exactly who and what they are.
Hitler, Bundy, Dahmer, Gacey, anathemas all . Then there are the folks in town - every small town has them. In all honesty, big towns have them as well, you just don't realize they may be your neighbor. I am not speaking of serial killers or criminals here. These are the ones that your parents and grandparents warned you about:
You're gonna wind up like those good for nuthin' Joneses. Why, they never knew how to hit a lick at a snake. In fact, I don't think they know how to find their backside with both hands.
These folks were the scourge. Everyone single one them was a born bad seed. You know how that Muckenfuss clan is. They were born to make a fuss. Some folks just live up to their name.


So what's in a name? The only thing I really care about is that my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life.
(Revelation 21:27) That regardless of what my name is here on this planet, how many ways folks can mispronounce names, change their name, misspell names, my name will never be forgotten.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The above post is for Sarah. She always bugs the snot out of me with the most inane questions, like, why did you name me Sarah? I hope I have explained this thoroughly enough for you. My brain has a tendency to do random things like get caught up on one thought and then chasing another one down.

Thanks also to Sarah for another award.

I'm supposed to post 7 honest things. I think I just did. I mean, my even remembering the last name Muckenfuss should count for at least 3 of those. Everything else comes from the scrap pile of my mind. Yep. I think I could count that pile above as about 7 things you can figure out about me.