I woke up this morning thinking about nickames. You know, those names you are tagged with when you were little, meant as a sign of endearment. I remember my grandma always called me Jimmy and it became so familiar my mother and siblings used it too and sometimes I forgot what my real name really was. When I was in the first grade, Mrs. Delbridge would take roll and always call me by my real name, James. On my first day in her class, I didn’t realize she was calling me when she said James so I didn’t answer until she came up to me and said aren’t you James?
Now, I think there may be a couple of reasons why I woke up thinking about nicknames. I had received a message for prayer for my nephew a few days ago and his name is Anthony, but I have always called him Tony and last week, I was trying to remember the name of a young woman I haven’t seen in a few years. I knew her last name, so I tried to find her on Facebook and finally located her site by her last name and picture, but I found out that the name I knew by was a nickname.
I started using my real name about the fifth or sixth grade, through high school and into college, but then reverted back to a modified form of the original name of endearment I was tagged with, “Jim”.
Now it’s very seldom that I’m referred to as James. Mostly it’s papaw, papa, papa Jim and maybe Jim without the since of endearment on it! But James is the title my mother gave me and I know the reason was because it was the name of someone she loved, she respected and trusted in her life. James meant someone special to her and I am honored to bear it!
I looked up the name James in biblical reference and found in the Old Testament it to mean Jacob and in the New Testament is was the name of Jesus’ brother. Now, the name Jacob means deceiver but Jacob was renamed Israel, I would say for good reason! James, the brother of Jesus, along with his brothers and sisters actually thought Jesus was crazy and had become an embarrassment to their family and didn’t believe in Him until after His resurrection. So, I guess by my namesake, me being under the New Coveant, I am the brother of Jesus and a true believer in Him.
I still go by the name of Jim! Why? I would guess at my age, if I sent out anything under the name James, those who received it would respond, James? Who is James? But I feel one day, I will be called James again, when I walk up to Jesus and hear Him say, “Welcome home, James, My good and faithful friend!”
Just a thought, just saying!
by Jim (James/Jimmy) Kennedy