No Other Name

I said I’d never do it. But here I am—the worst of them all. I said I’d never be one of those moms who went through the whole list of her kids’ names before hitting on the right one. But at least once a week when I’m wanting to say something to one of my kids (something entirely vital, I’m sure), it’s suddenly a roll call. I hit every name on my five-kid list and sometimes even throw in a couple of my own siblings and a stray cousin or two.

To add still more offense, I often manage to get a couple of the pets’ names mixed in there, too. You can imagine how my kids love that. At least I fight the urge at that point to say, “Sit. Stay. Good teenager.” Most of the time anyway. But it’s getting downright embarrassing. If I added a “Banana” and a “Fanna-fo” do you think they’d be fooled into thinking it was some kind of name game?

I would just give up and number my kids, but I have no doubt I would call them the wrong numbers. By the time you call your kids the wrong number once or twice, they’re likely to be insulted enough to completely tune you out anyway. “You have reached a kid that has been disconnected or is no longer listening….”

I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day. I can’t even remember why now, but somewhere in the conversation she said something surprising and I said, “Surely you’re kidding.” She said, “I’m totally not kidding. And don’t call me Susan.” Then there was a pause. I think we were both processing. After the processing came a couple of snickers and she said, “Oh wait. It’s Shirley, isn’t it.”

Sometimes there’s just no substituting the right name. In Acts 4, Peter and John were standing before the rulers trying to explain whose name they were using to do all the preaching and healing they had been doing—the preaching and healing they had just spent the night in jail for, by the way. But Peter didn’t need a roll call. He told them flat out, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NIV).

No substitute. No other name. And it’s not Susan. The name is Jesus! He has all power to do all saving. And He makes salvation available to every person with every name. Surely that’s reason to celebrate!

Though let me make it clear, I’m not calling you “Shirley.” And don’t call me Susan.

Rhonda Rhea is a radio personality and a conference speaker for events all over the country. She is the wife of First Baptist Church of Troy, Missouri’s pastor, Richie Rhea, and mother of five teenagers. She has authored several fun and fruitful books, including the new release I’m Dreaming of Some White Chocolate. Watch for High Heels in High Places coming in 2007. Find out more at www.RhondaRhea.net. For speaking information, try www.FindRhonda.com.