Some cultures have a tradition of very long names. Thailand and India follow this pattern. In Thailand the goal is for every family to have a unique last name. Indians develop names that include local gods and legends. Every name is associated with a story or legend that the person can be linked to. I'm guessing that nicknames are also popular in these countries! But two of my favorite names are also two of the shortest names: "Mom" and "Dad". These names are extremely common and if you shouted them in a busy place they would cause multiple heads to turn. They only work well when you are very close to the one you are calling. They are very common but they are extremely personal. When you call "Mom" you are calling your mom and when you call "Dad" you are calling your dad. It is a way of respectfully addressing parents in a personal way without using their actual first names. Isn't it wonderful that, as believers in Jesus, we are also children of the Heavenly Father and we can rightly call him "Dad" as well? And we can call to him wherever we are, whether in a place filled with people or whether we are alone, and he hears our voice. God has different names in the Bible that tell us about his character but I like Dad, or Father, best of all.
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Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine [Jesus speaking]"
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blessings,
Rob Smith
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