Sisters of Grace

On a beautiful Sunday in June I was born, it was thirty six years ago! My mother named me my first name after a little girl that she used to babysit when she was younger. My middle name came about because my dad wanted it to be Felicia but my mom hated that! I am grateful to her because I don’t love that name. They decided upon Alicia, as my middle name. However, the pronunciation can be two ways.

Honestly, I am unsure of the original way they pronounced it but I assume that it is pronounced as “Alisha” but I have also said it was “Alicia” as the actress Alicia Silverstone. The duality of it is quite funny, because I am a Gemini as the world would say by birthday! I used to love horoscopes but as I have grown in wisdom, it is not important to me now. I just find it funny and will not engage in the foolishness of trusting an article to tell me about my day! But many would say that my belief in Jesus is foolish! To each his own, we all must find our own path.

I was destined to be a follower of Jesus, and no matter how far I have ran, his goodness followed me. I truly believe that HE called me by name. My name fits me, and I like it. My parents gave me a pretty name, and the meaning of Alicia is: “noble natured or noble of kind”. The name is associated with noble birth and aristocracy. This name refers to a well off social standing, but that was not necessarily my life. I come from modest families that were blue collar people.

However, one cool thing that I notice about the name Alicia, is that it has the origins of Old German, and coincidentally my father’s ancestors are German. It also means “exalted”, I think it is a fitting name for a first born daughter. Names are important and I think we should carefully choose names that represent what we desire to speak regularly over our children. I named my last two children much more carefully than my first.

There is a particular authority that we have in naming someone or something, that goes back to the beginning. For example, when God told Adam to name everything. Names hold a certain air of authority, and sort of introduce a person before they are known. God also often changed the names of prominent figures in the Bible. The names associated with their beginnings being changed for their future is quite a transition. If we look at Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel; Jacob means “contender”, while Israel means “prevailed”.

Upon a closer look you see that Jacob went from a man fighting for birthright, identity and purpose to a victorious and prosperous man! God changes our life and sometimes our name, because all of us are marked with sin. We have become identified by our shameful sins, such as “addict, poor, thief, lazy, whore, broken, depressed, anxious, etc. Only we know the weight of those words and which ones apply to our own circumstances. When we meet with God, as Jacob did in his personal journey he is forever changed. He wrestled with an angel, he was determined to become something more than a liar and thief. He wanted to be blessed by God and he fought for it!

I have worn many labels in my lifetime, but the greatest names that I will ever answer to are Redeemed, Chosen, Child of God, Daughter of the King, and that will be all that matters in the end. I will never forget my humble beginnings but I am striving to overcome every obstacle and reach my potential, through the belief that I am more than just a name given. I have decided to live my life for something bigger than me. Thank you for reading, May your week be blessed and your joy be full! Happy Reading!