I’ve never liked my birth name. As a kid I always wished my parents had chosen their other consideration:  Jan Elizabeth instead of Jan Lanell. My dislike increased exponentially during a first grade awards assembly when all the other kids heard the principal announce “Jan Lanell Mooney”. Raymond Beall, my sweet friend whose untimely death I mourned, and funeral I attended a few years ago, immediately and loudly repeated it; but instead of pronouncing it “La Nell” he said “Lannel”. I was truly mortified. Introverted first-grade silly? Yes! But I still don’t like it. 

I’ve had other names attached to me throughout my life:  child, grandchild, niece, cousin, sibling, best friend, girlfriend, wife, in-law, aunt, preacher’s wife, mom, step-child, step-sibling, counselor, widow, grandparent, step-parent. Most I’ve loved, some I’ve struggled with, and one I hated.

God thinks of everything though and he has designed me a new name. He’s so positive that it’s perfect for me that He’s already engraved it on a white stone. He hasn’t told me what it is yet though because it’s a secret between us and he probably knows I’d want to start using it immediately. It’s a very special name—so special, in fact, that I’m the only one who will understand it and its meaning. He can do that because He’s the only One who knew me before he created the world and only He can give me such a perfect name. Whatever it is, I know I’m going to love it. 

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit 

and understand what he is saying… 

To everyone who is victorious 

I will give some of the manna 

that has been hidden away in heaven. 

And I will give to each one a white stone, 

and on the stone will be engraved a new name 

that no one understands except the one who receives it. 

Revelation 2:17