Friends. Family. Everyone… Hello, it is nice to meet you, my name is Molly Fae Dukes, you can call me Molly Fae.
Yes, Molly Fae, 2 words, one name. Also described as a double name. I have been going by the double name for over 6 years now and I want to make it known as to why. It’s something that I am pretty passionate about, but (I think) it’s also a pretty cool story! So here it is!
I left for college August 2010, a destination 8 hours away from my family, with all new and strange people and opportunities. Now, the prospect of moving away from family and starting new may thrill some people, but for me, I was bummed. I truly love and enjoy my family, I wanted to bring them with me, and keep them in my pocket for when I was having a hard time, but that sadly was not an option. So I brought my middle name instead, I added the Fae to the Molly, a name that my mother, Susan Fae, also holds. That way I could hold them just a little more close. …that, and also I just think it sounds good together, “Molly Fae”.
And so it was, for the following 4 years in college I went by Molly Fae, or sometimes Molly, at the time I really wasn’t picky.
Time rolled on and after I graduated I planned on going on this thing called “The World Race”. Not quite sure what this trip was about, I went to training camp at the end of July and found out real quick just what I was in for. An 11 month crash corse in ministry, identity, and community. Daunted is to small a word for what I was feeling. At training camp K-squad had a talk with the wonderful Kelly King, she spoke on identity and brought up the meaning of her name. In speaking, she shared that your name is the first word spoken over you at birth, and spoken over you daily, and man did that have an impact on me! It made me remember when I was in 8th grade I was assigned a project. Part of that project was finding out the meaning of my name… at the time, the “research” I did on google said that the name “Molly” comes from a Gaelic word meaning “Sea of Bitterness”… great. And “Fae”? “Fairy”. Not quite the words I wanted spoken over me on a daily bases. So I decided to do something about it.
Between training camp and launch 2014 I was having a hard time seeing my value and knowing my identity, and although I was excited for what the race promised to bring, I often questioned God, “Is this really the path you have chosen for me? Why me?” I searched for my identity, my place in the kingdom. I did some reading, studying, and actual research on my name, not just a google search. And come to find out, “Molly” also is derived from the Hebrew name “Mary” which means “Gods Chosen One.” A perfect answer to my questions, the perfect answer to my prayers.
Dang Lord, you are good.
Let’s fast forward some… Launch happened, some awesome growth happened, and months 1-7 happened. In month 8 Parent Vision Trip (or PVT) happened and my Mom got to come out to the missions field to work along side of me. It was incredible! To see my Mom in that element was inspiring. I often rave about my parents and say how proud I am to be the Daughter of JD and Sue, and this solidified it so hard! I have always wanted to be like my parents “when I grew up.” And PVT really opened my eyes to the idea of being a child, not only of JD and Sue, but an actual child of God. I know I definitely want to be like my God “when I grow up!” And I know I will be, because guys, I am not just a part of the “Dukes” family, I am a daughter of the one true king. I belong to Him, I am His beloved. I am in line to receive His kingdom.
Botswana was the month after Swaziland, but on a calendar, it was only like a week or two after PVT when I realized all these things about being a daughter to God (you know, like THE God!) And it turns out, in Botswana, there is a very common girls name there, “Molify” (spelling may be off), pronounced exactly like Molly Fae is pronounced… and its meaning? “Heiress.” That’s right, my name pretty much means, Daughter of the King, Inheritor of His kingdom.
Again I say: Dang Lord, you are good.
Fast forward once again. Months pass, lessons are learned, and I find myself in the middle of month one, not as a Racer, but as a Squad Leader… Lord, give me strength, this is not an easy job. But wait, strength is good… but that is not what I need, I need faith. Faith that I am in the right place, in the right time, with the right words. Faith that God knew what He was doing when He put His C-squad partially into my shaking, timid, hands. God give me faith… and you know what, He has, since day one of my life… you know why? Guess what I found out in the middle of month one… “Fae” sounds 110% exactly like the spanish word “Fé” which means “faith.”
Dang Lord, you are good.
What I love about my story is that a name change has never spurred a life change; but a life change: a realization from God, a desire to draw closer to Him, a desperate need for Him; is what spurred the name change. Would it be sacrilegious to compare it to Jesus changing Simons name to Peter? Maybe, but I’m gonna do it anyway. It’s just another way Jesus reminds me “I’m always here, I’m always with you.”
It’s like the Lord is constantly affirming me that I am chosen. I am His heiress. I am connected with Him through my faith. Who know what else He will reveal to me and what other changes will come! I’m so excited!!! And, although it isn’t that eloquent, all I really have to say to that is:
“Dang Lord, you are SO good.”
Love well,
Molly Fae
BONUS!: If anyone was wondering… this is baby Molly Fae, the first time my name was spoken over me!
