
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6
Names are very important to human beings. They were important to Jesus as well. He is called by many names like Messiah, Lord, Savior and Emmanuel. He is the Light of the World, the Prince of Peace and the Word made flesh. He is also the Good Shepherd and the Bread of Life. Redeemer, Son of Man, Everlasting Father, and King of the Jews are also His name.
My name is Daphne (daf-nee). It has been pronounced dol-fin, daf-any, daf-a-nee, dap-hi-ne, and daf-fy. My mother’s name was also Daphne. Her mother saw the name in a book and liked it. Since my mother was born and raised in Mississippi her friends and family called her Dafna. In fact she spelled her name Daphna until she took Latin in high school. Her teacher told her she was misspelling her name. When she asked my grandmother, Mom told her that the correct spelling was Daphne.
I have other names as well. My family calls me D. Gay. My sister and brother and I have rhyming middle names, and we were called by our double names. My sister could not say Daphne Gay so she came up with D. Gay.
My son, Paul Grady Madden, calls me Mama or Mother. His friends at the dance studio called me Ms. Paul Grady because they knew I was his mother. I have been called Aunt Daphne by my nieces. Some people call on the phone and ask to speak to Mrs. Madden. I previously was able to tell them that she lived in Shreveport, since I do not go by my husband’s name. I have been called a scouter, a substitute teacher, a pre-school music teacher, a bell ringer or a ding a ling, a friend, a wife, a mother, a sister, and a child.
The name I want to be known as above all names is a Child of God. I want people to be able to call me the name of Christian because of the way I represent Christ’s light in my life. Yes, I am not perfect, but if I continue to strive for Christ’s Light to shine through me, I will eventually be perfected in Him.
Light of Christ, shine in my life. Make me true to the name Christian. Let others see your light through my actions. Thank you for that light and for everlasting life. Amen
Daphne G. Grady