"The Importance Of A Name"

The following was the conversation between Matt and our girls on the way to school this morning:

Rachel: "Daddy, is your middle name Cheyenne?"
Matt: "No, it's David."
Rachel: "But Mommy and Macayla have the same middle name."

This isn't the first time this has crossed Rachel's mind. She just doesn't get the concept as to why Macayla and I share the same middle name of "Dawn". I think she feels left out. The only thing that makes her feel better when we talk about this is the fact that both Matt and Rach were born in the same hospital. I was born in Indiana and Macayla was born in Illinois. Rachel was born in Matt's home state of Kansas. So they share that bond. This makes her feel better only for a short time, then it's back to not understanding why Matt's middle name can't just be "Cheyenne".

A name is really important. Parents-to-be take plenty of time discussing names back and forth before choosing just the right one for their little pink or blue bundle. Before having kids myself, I was told by other moms to yell the first and middle name together (as if your kids are in trouble) to see how that flows together. I admit, I tried it. "Macayla Dawn" and "Rachel Cheyenne" had a certain flow about it. I wish Rachel would understand that 'Matthew Cheyenne' just doesn't sound right!!! I'm sure glad his parents went with the middle name of David instead!

When I was nine years old, I accepted Jesus as my Lord, my Savior, my Forgiver and my Leader. That day, I took on a new name...the name "Christian". I was now a Christ-follower. A name is really important. At the time, I may not have fully understood the concept of not ever wanting to damage that new name. I understand it better now. Because I've committed my life to wearing that name, the name Christian, then I better represent that name as best I can. Whatever I say and whatever I do is a true reflection, a representation, of my name and of Christ's name. How I fail at that miserably at times! A name is really important.

On December 19, 1997 (yes, you can all wish us a happy 10 year anniversary), I changed my name from Jennifer Dawn Stuckey to Jennifer Dawn Bycroft. Growing up, especially after I gained more knowledge about who Jesus was and is, I didn't want to do anything to damage the Stuckey name. Notice I said I didn't want to do anything...it doesn't mean I didn't. Needless to say, I got spanked a lot. Thanks mom and dad. I mean that...hopefully my girls will see the reason for this someday too! In the same way, when I got married and took on my new name of Bycroft, I was committing to do my best in not hurting that name either. Not only would that affect me, but it would also affect my husband and our future children. A name is really important.

There is no other name that we would want for our daughters then what names they have been given. Those names are perfect for them...it just fits. Our girls were born into the Bycroft family. They will wear that name for a while. Thank God we are a part of God's family too. We can wear that name for eternity. This past February, our oldest Macayla, was baptized into Christ and now wears that name. We pray that someday Rachel will make that same decision on her own. The name we are given when we are baptized is way more important than the names we have been given at our physical birth anyway. Someday it won't matter to Rachel why Macayla shares my middle name and why hers is different. Right now, it's a pretty big deal to her. What matters is how we wear Christ's name. A name is really important.

"A good name is more desirable than great riches..." Proverbs 22:1