When a Girl is born into the world, a new flower begins to bloom in beauty's garden.
Sacred and sublime is the chance that parents have to name this newest mortal Goddess entrusted to their care.
Whether Aisha or Zoey, a Woman's name is a jewel in and of itself. It should be spoken reverently, savored like sweet wine. As lovely Rebecca and I discussed here a little while ago, it should never be arbitrarily shortened.
When I have the chance to write a Woman's name, whether in a business letter or a blog post, I try to slow down and think about it and its bearer as I do so. If I am handwriting it, I try to write it as neatly as possible.
Women's names have meanings as lovely as Their recipients. Melissa is a bee, Susanna a lily, Sarah a Princess.
I think of Lisa, Emily, Christina, Gloria and Jennifer and I picture a classroom full of Girlish giggles or a procession of prom beauties or a seasoned Sorority of seniors sharing pictures of Their grandchildren over lunch.
I think of Adena, Amarpreet, Alexis, Carmen, Dawn, Heart (I don't know Your real name!), Ildiko, Jeane, Laura, Leslie, Lyn, Mara, Petraa, Rebecca, Scarlett and Trisia, and I hear again all the warm and wise words that You Daughters of heaven have posted on this blog.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Her name
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
As a teacher, I have noticed that both students and teachers try to shorten everybody’s name. I don’t know why we do this in this culture. Names are important and beautiful to both genders. We don’t need to shorten names at all.
The first time I became aware of this was when I had a boy by the name of Dominic in my class. I tried to shorten his name to Dom, which sounds like Don. Then people started calling him Don and he did not like it at all. After that I made sure not to shorten anyone’s name without their permission.
I have found that some people hate to be called Rebecca, for example. They would much rather be Becca, or Becky. I don’t have any problem with that. I think Becca is a great name as well. But if one wishes to be called Rebecca, I will not shorten it ever out of respect.
Chase March, may you ever be the calming voice that reminds me, when I am dizzy in my delirium over Damsels, of the beauty as well in boy and the merit in man.
I love my name, It means poem. I also love Frieda, Sofia and Karla, and Rebecca, too.
Thank you for all the sweetness towards us: beautiful women, and respect. I thank you deeply.
Carmen: Respect, awe and adoration comes easily in the presence of beauty, which is the essence of Woman.
It's how one feels looking down at a pristine wilderness from a mountain height;or hearing a gorgeous piece of classical music; or spying a new fawn at a forest's edge.
And when someone such as You recognizes and happily acknowledges Her beauty, in both body and soul, it makes it even sweeter, even more joyful.
I didn't know that Carmen means poem! How appropriate, for You are a living poem!
Carmen has of course always made me think of the delightful musical of that name and Bizet's compositions for it.
Speaking of names, Chase March's comment about our tendency to shorten them in this culture made me think about cultures that do the opposite, especial in the Hispanic or Arabic world.
Thus you get Jesus Rodriguez Quintilla del Asuncion de Maria del Cantoria or Mohammed Abdul Omar Obed Aziz.
I have always wished that my name were Susanna, but my parents were stingy with letters and left off the last two.
Having endured being called Sexy Sue in junior high school when such titles were mortifying, I have never cared for Sue.
My husband and closest friends call me Susy, but it seems strange from mere acquaintances.
Names are important. No one has the right to change another's.
Susan: So very right! And the cruelest thing that children do to each other is to pervert one's precious name into an insult.
Adena: East and West are more alike than many of us realize. I see that more every day.
Post a Comment