I could not write my blog posts without help. Those of you that know me know how little I like asking for help. With my writing, though, I have no issue asking for help; writing is not one of my talents. My son, Justin, is my creative marketing specialist. He completely supports my calling of writing my and God’s story, and he helped me get started by creating my website and editing my first few blog posts. My story is for him.

Then, there is my current editor and grammar police officer, my sister, Dana (rhymes with banana if you knew her way back when…now it’s Daaaana (long A). She got tired of telling people how her family pronounced her name.) My sister stepped in to be my second mind and eyes because the truth in my stories are, at times, hard for my son to read and edit. I love my Dana Banana and her intelligence.

In my last post, her eagle eyes noticed that I had previously described my husband as “my husband,” (creative writing at its best); but I then used his name. She thought it might be a little confusing and suggested that I introduce him.

So, meet “my husband.”

The name given to him at birth was Charles, Jr. We met at Ouachita Baptist University where he introduced himself to me as, “Slick.” So, Slick was the name I always called him. A farm worker had given him that name when he was five years old due to a recent “slick” hair cut he had received. From that moment on, people called him by that nickname which definitely helped distinguish the subject in conversations about him and his father, Charles, Sr.

Everywhere we went there was only one person with the name of Slick. He was truly a unique character. You’ll learn more about him as I share more of our story.

On the other hand, my nickname, Cindy, is quite common. I have even met someone with the same first and last name as me, and we were not related. Talk about a strange feeling when meeting someone with your identical name who looks nothing like you!

We all have a name that was granted to us at birth or at adoption. Our name becomes our identity for the rest of our lives here on earth. Our parents chose our names for many different reasons. My mother just thought the name, Cynthia, was pretty as well as unusual. (So did many other mothers with daughters born in a certain decade, thus, quickly making the name common!) Other parents named their children for family members, such as Slick’s parents did. I know one man who was named after a famous actor that his mother liked. Still other parents chose a name due to the meaning.

The meaning of my name, Cynthia, is “moon goddess.” Cynthia was originally an epithet of the Greek goddess of the moon, Artemis, who was sometimes called "Cynthia" because, according to legend, the goddess was born on Mount Cynthus. Even though I was named after a goddess, my family occasionally points out that I am not one.

On those Christian magnets in the stores, my name means, “reflector of light.” The moon has no light of its own; it reflects the light of the sun. I guess that was the closest spiritual correlation someone could think of for a “moon goddess.”

Another name we are all given at birth is sinner. We are born into separation from God because of sin.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Just like Charles and Cynthia were changed into Slick and Cindy, the name of sinner can be changed when we are born spiritually.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Once we believe in Jesus, we are born spiritually and receive a new name. We can call ourselves, Christians (one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ, per Merriam-Webster).

Jesus also tells us in the Bible that He will give us a new name.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.” Revelation 2:17

The best part?

“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5

My name has been written in the book of life since I was six years old and accepted God’s free gift of eternal life with Him because I believed in His Son, Jesus. My husband’s name was written down when he was 28 years old and accepted God’s gift.

My desire, now, is to live like a “reflector of light,” reflecting the light of Jesus as a Christian and as Cynthia.

I think this is all pretty slick.