A Name Change

When Erin was about 2 ½ years old, we were driving on Dean Road headed the back way to Honey and Poppar’s house when she told me very emphatically that she did not like her name. Erin wasn’t a very opinionated child like her sibling, so I have to admit it hurt my feelings a little that she didn’t like her name. I explained that I loved her name and how we came to choose her name, but she was intent on changing it. At first she wanted to change it to “G.” G was Patrick’s mom who would come and get Erin once a quarter, take her back to Mississippi and spend a whole week with her. Erin got a high concentration of undivided attention. Patrick and I would call the week after “Detox” week, but we are so grateful for those times that Erin had with Gynelle. When I pointed out to Erin that we already had a G in our family, Erin decided to settle on the name Elmo. The rest of the day we had to call her Elmo, or she wouldn’t respond.


Stay with me…I promise there is a connection.

In Mark 5, Jesus was on his way to visit a very sick little girl when he felt power leave him. He’s being pressed from every side. The crowd is almost crushing, and Jesus stops to ask who touched him. Um, hello? A mob is pressing in every direction, and Jesus wants to know who touched him. I am so right there with Peter when he feels the need to state the obvious. Bless his heart and mine.

In Mark 5:30, “At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’” He didn’t look to the left. He didn’t look to the right. He knew exactly from where the power had left him. He knew exactly who had touched him too. He was looking for her, for her face. Verse 32 said Jesus kept looking. I wonder. I wonder if their eyes met. I wonder if she had a hard time looking into his face. Why did he feel the need to call her out? Hadn’t this woman been through enough? I wonder what she felt in those few moments after being healed and then being discovered.

When she realizes she can no longer hide, she comes before Jesus trembling, falls at his feet and tells her story. Humbling. Have you ever had someone do something for you without asking, and it is something you could never do for yourself at that point in time? It is humbling. Jesus calls her daughter. Daughter. Jesus called her out, so he could have a person relationship with her, a protective relationship with her. How awesome is that?! A personal Savior wanting a personal relationship.

He also wanted her to know that it wasn’t his clothes that healed her. It was her faith in him that healed her. He wanted her to testify. He wanted her to have witnesses to her healing. Unclean no more was she, but clean – cleaner than anyone could ever make her.

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus? What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other found I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

You know another reason he may have had her testify is to bring it to light. If we have been forgiven of an act, Jesus forgives us, but Satan can still try to use it against us. By bringing her situation into the light of day and confessing that while she was unclean she touched a man, Satan cannot make her feel guilty because nothing is hidden. There is nothing of which to be ashamed.

For twelve long years, this woman had bore the name Unclean, and in one healing moment, Jesus changed the negative, derogatory name to DAUGHTER. REDEEMED! Have you ever carried around a stigma? Have you ever been burdened with a label that is intentionally cruel? Have you ever tried to hide who you are because you weren’t good enough? There is a Savior who is Jesus Christ, and he so desperately want to take away your shame and replace it with the name Daughter, Child of God, Forgiven, Redeemed. Oh, thank you, Sweet Jesus!

When Jesus does something in your life, testify! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him heavenly host. Praise Father God, Son and Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for my name change in Jesus Christ. Are you?