Knowing a Sweet Name

This weekend, my sisters decided it would be a great time to take my almost-year-old son to the pumpkin patch. After all, the past few days have actually felt like fall for the first time in a long time, so why not lug a 27-pound baby to the pumpkin patch with the assistance of his dad, four aunts, one uncle, and a grandmother?

But as we were making our way to load the covered wagon to get to the patch, I felt my sister tugging on my shirt. She pointed to a little boy, maybe 5 years old, circling in the middle of the field. He wore a green shirt, black shorts, and a terrified look on his face.

“Hannah, I don’t think he can find his parents,” she told me.

I immediately approached the little one and asked if he knew where his parents were. He said, “I came here with my grandma.”

He proceeded to tell me that he had been playing on one of the attractions the park offered, which was located on the opposite side of the park where I had found him (but he didn’t know that), and that his grandmother had been taking pictures of him, but he had since gotten separated from her. He knew exactly what she looked like – down to the type of shoes that she was wearing.

So, after I introduced myself and asked his name, I asked for his grandmother’s name. He told me, “Her name is Grandma.”

At this point, my sisters and I offered a slight chuckle as we looked back at each other – I had asked a silly question in the mind of a young, scared child – of course, her name is Grandma!

Nevertheless, all seven of us began walking around looking for her. Suddenly, a woman yelled this little boy’s name as she ran to hug both him and me. The boy looked so relieved and at peace.

“He said your name was Grandma, and we had to find you,” I giggled as I hugged her back.

She thanked me, we shared a few words, and we all went our separate ways to enjoy the pumpkin patch.

But in the days since, I’ve thought a lot about this interaction.

First of all, with all the exciting events happening at this park, I can see where it would be so easy to get separated from a child. Secondly, I’ve thought about how this little boy needlingly called for his grandmother.

He was too little to know her name beyond the role she played in his life. Yet, he knew everything about her, what she wore, and he knew that he had to find her.

But better yet, this little boy taught me a thing or two about another important person.

His name is Jesus. How well do you know Him?

This situation mentioned above reminded me of a passage found in John 10. Verses 24-30 state:

The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” Emphasis added.

For followers of Christ, we know that in the grand scheme of things, we have been given a great gift of eternal life. Yet, we have also been given another wonderful gift – the need not to fear.

If I were lost and on my own in life, I would be just as afraid as that little boy was.

But thankfully, we have been given a sweet hope in the name of Jesus.

This passage above tells us that those who follow the Lord know His voice, and when things get bad, we can follow that voice through whatever ails us while needlingly calling for the love that He provides.

We can trust what He says is true and hold tight to His promises. We know that no matter what, He will be there with open arms, waiting for us to run into them.

Because the beauty of the gospel is that nothing can separate those of us who have trusted Jesus from the mighty love he offers. No sin, strife, heartache, or hardship can take away the gifts that we have so freely been given.

This week, may we turn back and shift our focus to the perfect love of God, who loves us greater still – and get to know him as well as we do our good, earthly grandmas!

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:29-30).

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