Recently, in an unprecedented search through all of the closets in my house, I finally came across my childhood photo album. I was desperate to find it because I love to remember. I love to hold people and places and events close to my heart. You could say I’m a little sentimental… okay, a lot. I’m completely sentimental.
When I came across the album, after days and weeks of looking, I shed tears of joy and delight that I had found it. I sat down and paged through the whole book completely, slowly and soaked in the memories of each photo. I noticed something that I hadn’t thought about for a while.
You see I’ve been married for twelve years now. My name is Melody Ann Day. yes. That is my name. But it hasn’t always been. My maiden name is Melody Ann Young, it was mine for 24 years. Looking through all of those pictures took me back to a different life.
It was a wonderful life. My childhood was quite nice, filled with a lot of happiness, plenty of goodness, and loving parents. Fairly picture perfect. But, I have to tell you, it doesn’t compare to my life now. I am Melody Day, the wife of a wonderful man, Michael Day. He gave me his name on September 25, 1999. And now my life is totally, significantly different.
So, what does this have to do with anything at all?
Well, a long time ago, I was the old me. I had a name. The truth? My name was sinner. Unbeliever. Lost sheep. It wasn’t until I gave my heart and life to my Heavenly Father, that my name changed.
And now He calls me by a new name. Daughter. Beloved. Princess. Friend.
That old life doesn’t hold a candle to my new life in Christ. I’m a daughter of the Heavenly Father. Loved by the God of the Universe. A princess, an heir to a heavenly throne. Friend of the only one who is forever faithful… What an amazing transformation! And, while the name change happened years ago, there is no way to express or explain how this love, this peace, this joy knows no end. There is no measurable height or depth: each day, more and more He abounds.
From Titus 3:
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
These are remarkable words, from His book, laid out for my own reminiscing, meant to be treasured and held close to my heart… It will do me well to remember them above all else : I am His, but it is not because of anything I’ve done. Rather, I have a new name, a new hope and future. Its a new life because of His love, His mercy, His grace.
daily portion 