A new name

At an animal shelter, we looked through the glass windows studying the names and faces. Each cubical reflected affectionate looks silently screaming, Choose me, PLEASE! Some dogs had stories, others had no known background. Our gaze met with blue eyes. I chuckled at the sight of him. “Is he a little cross-eyed? He looks like Kevin from the movie, Home Alone.”

David and I laughed as he did a cute little prance in his kennel.

We walked closer to read the info about this pup.  Blaze, 3 year-old, Siberian Husky. The shelter didn’t know much about Mr. Blaze, other than he was brought in by the police (he has a record), he had a microchip, and the shelter called the previous owners many times and they wouldn’t talk, ultimately surrendering this little guy.
I felt my my heart fill with sadness for him. Still, I wasn’t ready. I was still grieving the loss of my beloved Zorro. I studied David and watched him fight back a smile. And I knew right then I’d have to make room in my heart, ready or not.
Blaze seemed happy to come home with us and hopped right into the car. 

When David leaves the house, he just sits by the garage door until his new “dad” returns. 

He didn’t like his new sister Maya very much, but he’s learning to adjust.

As the days went on, Blaze didn’t respond to his name so we decided we’d see what fit once we learned more about his personality.
He bounced like Tigger, but that was a cat’s name.
He was quiet, so we considered the name Stealth.
We liked batman and bandit, but none seemed to quite fit.
I thought about how God gave new names and established new identities to people in the Bible. https://www.gotquestions.org/name-change.html

-Abram meaning “high father,” became “Abraham,” meaning “father of a multitude.”

-Sarai meaning, “my princess,” became”Sarah,” meaning “mother of nations.”
-Jacob was renamed to “Israel,” redefining him as, “having power with God.”

-Simon was changed to “Peter,” giving him a new title, “rock.”

I looked up the name blaze and it means “fire or flame.” But this little guy was not “aflame,” he was simply silent. Perhaps Stealth was the right name for him. 

But then David called him Maverick. He responded and came upon command. Maverick means “Free spirit, independent and one who avoids conformity.”

Maverick wanted to be truly himself, completely free, and to be a part of this family.

We watched him settle into his new name. 

***

I think about my own name, Dawna which means, “the first appearance of light, daybreak.” And my middle name, Marie means, “star of the sea.” 

So fitting for me. But in the life to come, I will become who I was truly created to be. And I can only wonder what will my new name will be in my new home.

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him winning the victory I will give some of the hidden man. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name that nobody knows except the one receiving it.”’ Revelation 2:17

Each of us will have a new home and a new name someday.

But for now, will you help me welcome this new little guy, Mr. Maverick?

We love your new name, Mav, and we love you.