What's in a Name?

Since getting married, like many women, I've had the privilege of taking my husband's surname as my own. In the words of the Avett brothers, "there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name." However, with this exciting change has also come, for lack of a better word, hassle. I didn't give changing my name to Jamie's a second thought, but until now, I never realised how much my identity actually rested on my own name. I think often times we forget the significance that comes with a name. Perhaps in earlier history and in Biblical times, names held much more authority and significance than they do now, or perhaps not. The current shift in culture would seem to argue the first, however, I would love to encourage the latter.In this whole name-changing process I was amazed to find just how many things needed (and still need) to be changed over:


Facebook account.

Bank Account.

Personal Address.

Twitter account.

Blogger account. (Hence the new account.)

E-mail address.

University log-in details.

Bills.

Passport (big deal).

Although this has been more intensive than I expected, it has been very fun and exciting for me. The joy of taking on a new identity in a sense has been life-giving. The fact that I now get to identify myself with the very name of the man I so deeply love, is truly an amazing gift. Getting to sign my new name has also been quite entertaining. I'll admit, I definitely was caught practising it on more than one occasion during the "engagement period".


I think most importantly the significance of a name-change is the covenant it implies. In taking Jamie's surname as my own, I am giving the world a symbol of a covenant we have entered into before God, family, and friends; it is sacred, beautiful, and exciting--and most importantly, it is for life. In Genesis 17, God changes Abram's name to Abraham as a sign to the world of the covenant God was making. This name-change was significant in that it changed Abraham's identity completely, in Christ.


Becoming a McSeveney for me has been a reminder of not only the covenant that Jamie and I have made with one another, but the covenant that God has made with me as an individual. Ultimately, my identity is found in the likeness of Christ, and not my husband. However, I intend to let my new name be a reminder to me of our covenantal God who loves us so much that HE would enter into relationship with US, because HE is good and because HE is merciful and gracious.


Learning a lot right now. Fun times!


Here's to being a McSeveney, to the man I love (and now get to live with at Fort McSeveney!!) and to our amazing Creator who has created us in His likeness.