What’s Your Real Name?

A Tar Kettle for Roofing

 

My husband would often take his teen age brother, Douglas and our son Steve to work with him during the summer.  Doug was 4 months older than our son, and he lived with us for a period of several years.  Five early teens in one house was an interesting time. 

The boys were given simple tasks to pick up the wrappings from the packs of shingles, and other non dangerous clean up jobs.  If the job was Tar and Gravel, they had to stay home because this could be more hazardous.  Our roofing crew consisted mainly of family, a cousin, an uncle, and my husband’s step dad.  We often employed an extra man. 

Our Step-dad had a habit of calling our uncle, “Brother-in-law,” instead of his given name.   Send up a bucket of hot tar - “Brother-in law.” Using the pulley, soon a bucket of the hot asphalt would reach the platform at the top of the roof.    

One day we hired a young black boy as a helper.  The men except for Uncle were all on the roof.  Uncle was the kettle man and they needed another bucket of tar. 

 

The new black boy ambled over to the edge of the roof.  The boy yelled, “Brother-in-law, send us up a bucket of tar.”  

No one could hold a straight face after that, and they all laughed until their bellies hurt. 

Realizing the joke was on him, our black friend laughed too.  The fellows told him, his name is Ernest, but “Brother-in-law” will get his attention better!  As long as that young man worked for us, he continued to call our Uncle, “Brother-in-law.” 

Many of us have been given a pet name by someone we love.  Be it honey, dear, sweetie, darling, lover, or something else nice. 

 

We had a friend that they called “Shortie,”one called “Red,’ for his hair color and another was called “Gimp” because he limped a bit.  Some kinds of nick names can be hurtful. 

Amazing enough is the fact that God not only knows our names, but he knows all about us. 

He knew us even when we were still in our mother’s womb.  Psalms_22:10  I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.  

Even the very hairs on our head are numbered.  Matthew 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

The book of Revelation says that one day soon, we will receive a new Heavenly name.

 

I wonder if it will be similar as to the woman taking the man’s name at a marriage.  

After all there will be a marriage supper of the Lamb.  What a thought!

I am reminded of the hymn, “There’s a New Name Written Down in Glory and it’s mine. 

This post was inspired by some thoughts received when I read Floyd’s great post: Enjoy his story here: 
http://theregoi.com/finding-floyd/the-beginning-of-faith/