Going by my middle name has always been challenging. Since “Mary” is on every important document, I was now introduced as “Maria” to all of the kids. It was too late and too confusing with the language barrier to let them in on the fact that I’m a middle namer.
So Maria it is. I feel like I should instantly be good at salsa dancing and making good homemade tortillas. Unfortunately, those don’t come natural to this Maria.
We were in Leon, Nicaragua this past month at El Ayudante. Where lives are changed through one child, one family, and one community. El Ayudante provide a safe and nurturing environment for 29 children to receive spiritual, educational, nutritional, and medical care. It has been an incredible month getting to know each of these kids everyday. We get to teach them about our Father who gives us names, beautiful names – just like the name Maria. And Just like each of these names – Precious. Beautiful. Chosen. Cherished. Beloved. Intelligent. Child of God. Friend.
We got to share with each child who they are chosen by, their identity in Christ, and the beautiful names He calls us.
Watching the kids stand up and claim these words over their life reminded me of how beautiful names are but even more beautiful when you know who is calling you and where your Identity stands. He sees each one of us with love as precious, infinite beauty, and as of eternal value.
We are uniquely and beautifully chosen.
“When we claim and constantly reclaim the truth of being chosen ones, we soon discover within ourselves the deep desire to reveal to others their own chosenness” – Henri Nouwen.
