I have a lot of names. My given name is Teresa (spelled not the French way with an H, but the Spanish way – even though I am predominately French). As a child I could not pronounce Teresa so was given the nickname Terry (spelled the masculine way with a Y, which once registered me into boys PE in High School). My middle name is Kay (but Kay was not recognized as a proper baptismal name, so it shows as Katherine on my certificate). I also took the name Grace for my confirmation, but that one is simple.
Then there is my maiden name—Brunelle, pronounced Bru-Nel (the LE on the end is silent). Still everyone usually pronounced it Brunel-Lee and then misspelled it Brunelli (like the Italians).
So, when I got that lovely little four-letter married name I thought, finally, a name everyone can pronounce or spell correctly. Never happened. LEMA, such a simple last name. Pronounced LEE-MA. Except now a lot of people spelled it like Lima (Peru). Others spelled it like Lima (Peru) and pronounced it lima (bean). At various times, I have been known as Leeman, Lemon, Lima (Bean), or Laman. I was known as Theresa Lemon throughout my last pregnancy, the doctor’s office never could get it right.
I have grown used to being called by different names and by different titles (Ma, Mom, Mother, Grandma, GT, Peaches, Pastor). It does not really matter because when I hear God speak to me, I hear him call me the best name ever, “His Child.” I am a child of God. He gave me that name when I surrendered my life to His Son, Christ Jesus my LORD.
“But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.” [John 1:12 HCSB]
My father always joked that it didn’t matter what anyone called him as along as they called him to dinner. For me, it really does not matter what others call me, as long as my Almighty Father God calls me “His Child.”
