Carrying Your Father’s Name

At the christening of their newborn son, a young wife told the pastor, “My husband wants to name him after his dad and I want to name him after mine.”  “What is your dad’s name?” “Joseph”, she replied.  “What is your husband’s father’s name?” “Joseph,” she said again.  “Then what’s the problem?”  The husband replied, “Well, her dad’s a criminal and mine’s a respected Christian.  How will people know which one he’s named after?”   “That’s easy,” the pastor said, “Call him Joseph and see which one he turns out like.  That way everybody will know whose name he carries.” 

St Francis once took a young monk with him to preach in town.  But when they arrived they just chatted with vendors and talked with people on the street.  Returning home, the novice asked St. Francis why they hadn’t preached.  St. Francis replied, “People listened; they observed our attitude and behavior- that was our message.”

Listen: “Take care of business….do your work….then people who are not believers will respect you.”  That means: a. ensuring that your walk matches your talk.  b. truly caring about others. c. not cheating on your spouse or your income taxes.  d. paying your bills on time.  e. not shortchanging your employer.  Peter writes: “Put on the apron of humility, to serve one another.”    (1 Peter 5:5 )

Just remember that we carry our Father’s name.