Learning My Middle Name
For many years now, I have objected to my first and second names. Why? Because I felt them to be A) generic and B) untenable. "Christina" is so very much what any Christian parents would choose for their girl-child, and "Joy" is something I've never felt that I had in great quantity or quality.
"Names are like prophecies, honey. You will grow into it." Mama said.
"But that's not me!" I expostulated. "I'm not a 'little Christ' and I'm not joyful. You might as well have named me 'Churchill Melancholy!'"
Or words to that effect. I don't think I ever claimed that Churchill Melancholy would be as good a name for me as Christina Joy--however, it conveys my sentiments.
I ought to know by now that my mother's words are almost always born out by events. As I was reading Piper's When I Don't Desire God in my QT this morning, I ran across the following: "Joy in God is a gift. . . . We are too hard and rebellious in ourselves even to see Jesus as attractive, let alone leave all and come to him as our all-satisfying Joy."
Piper goes on to explain one of the great mysteries of our faith in these terms: "We must obey the command to rejoice in the Lord, and we cannot, because of our willful and culpable corruption. Therefore obedience, when it happens, is a gift."
According to Piper, I had not even the capacity to delight in God until my conversion (which, for the child of a Christian home, was at the relatively late age of 15). But ever since then, I have been a recipient of the gift of joy in God. I am, truly, Joy. My mother trusted God that I would be someday when she named me, and so I have been, since the day I was reborn. Her faith is rewarded in the present appropriateness of the names which she chose. I am growing up in the image of Christ, though the adjective "little" is a good one. And I have, in growing measure, joy. I have the capacity for joy. I am able to delight in God.
So you see, my mother was right. I am Christina Joy.
"Names are like prophecies, honey. You will grow into it." Mama said.
"But that's not me!" I expostulated. "I'm not a 'little Christ' and I'm not joyful. You might as well have named me 'Churchill Melancholy!'"
Or words to that effect. I don't think I ever claimed that Churchill Melancholy would be as good a name for me as Christina Joy--however, it conveys my sentiments.
I ought to know by now that my mother's words are almost always born out by events. As I was reading Piper's When I Don't Desire God in my QT this morning, I ran across the following: "Joy in God is a gift. . . . We are too hard and rebellious in ourselves even to see Jesus as attractive, let alone leave all and come to him as our all-satisfying Joy."
Piper goes on to explain one of the great mysteries of our faith in these terms: "We must obey the command to rejoice in the Lord, and we cannot, because of our willful and culpable corruption. Therefore obedience, when it happens, is a gift."
According to Piper, I had not even the capacity to delight in God until my conversion (which, for the child of a Christian home, was at the relatively late age of 15). But ever since then, I have been a recipient of the gift of joy in God. I am, truly, Joy. My mother trusted God that I would be someday when she named me, and so I have been, since the day I was reborn. Her faith is rewarded in the present appropriateness of the names which she chose. I am growing up in the image of Christ, though the adjective "little" is a good one. And I have, in growing measure, joy. I have the capacity for joy. I am able to delight in God.
So you see, my mother was right. I am Christina Joy.
posted by Praelucor at 8:12 AM
2 Comments:
Christy, you have a good name. Your post made me look up my own middle name. Do you realize that all this time I had never learned what my middle name, "Elizabeth," means? It means "consecrated to God." And Sarah means "Princess."
I find that remarkably humbling, and so like me. Most of my life, I focused on the fact that I was a "princess." Royalty; an aristocrat. An individual. But I am so much more than that. I am a child of God.
Our parents were wise when they named us.
Names are beautiful things. My first name means the same thing as Elizabeth ... consecrated to God ... and then of course we share a middle name :). Which my dad frequently reminded me of, growing up ... he called me "Joyful Goose."
Happiness may be a personality trait ... and the up end of a mood swing ... but joy should be a Christian state of being. I suppose all the more if you're blue not in the way of being melancholy, but of being ethereal ;).
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