Tonight at Copper Pointe Church, we heard a powerful message about encountering God and the power that lies in our name. The message dealt with Jacob and Esau. Specifically, Jacob wrestling with who he was and living up to the name he was given: Deceiver. Ultimately, Jacob’s life became so tumultuous that he ended up wrestling with an Angel that changed his name to Israel and set him on the path of being the patriarch of the Nation of Israel and changed his name from deceiver to wrestles with God and is favored by men.
This message caused me to think about the kids that we serve and how their name becomes associated with certain adjectives in the minds of those that surround them. How many kids, when their families are asked about them, elicit thoughts like annoying, burden, angry, defiant, inconvenience, argumentative or worthless? And how many kids become defined by what their name means to those that they live with and are surrounded by?
This led me to think about my own name and the effect that it has had on who I am and how I think of myself. Heath means desert flower that brings joy to weary travelers and Aaron means mountain of strength, exalted one or enlightened. Most people that have met me will disagree with one or both of my names being applicable to me, but they have helped define who I am. This makes me wonder how difficult it would be to change my view of me now that it has become comfortable and I am aware of what my names mean.
It also made me think about how difficult it is for the kids to change the definition of who they are that has been associated with the name that they were given. Our work here really comes down to how successful we are at changing the words that are associated with a kids name and helping them find a new definition for their name. One that does not limit, minimize, marginalize or deflate them. One that is not associated with words like annoying, burden, angry, defiant, inconvenience, argumentative or worthless.
Thoughtful, respectful, smart, kind, joy to be around, gift, beautiful, likable, creative, talented, beloved, cherished, blessing are all words that I would love to see become a part of how kids see themselves and how those surrounding them can begin to see them. This is our task and our responsibility here at The Ranches and I hope that we can be deliberate and dedicated to accomplishing this goal. As with most things, many times we pray for change to happen to others when what we really need is change to occur within us. It is also my hope that change will occur within us in 2016.
